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PRICE FIFTEEN CENTS 


DICK’S 

Little Folk’s 
Reciter 



NEW YORK 
DICK & FITZGERALD 
















DICK’S 

LITTLE FOLKS’ RECITER 


CONTAINING 

ORIGINAL AND SELECTED SPEECHES AND 
RECITATIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN 


i) 



NEW YORK 
DICK & FITZGERALD 
18 Ann Street 



Copyright, 1896, 

By Dick & Fitzgerald. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Adam Never Was a Boy. 71 

At the Window.84 

Bed-Time. 12 

Bessie’s Text. 26 

Best Season, The ....36 

Be True.62 

Bread Crusts ... r .84 

By and By. 77 

Choice of Occupation (for Girls).32 

Choice of Occupation (for Boys).35 

Closing Speech. 12 

Crocus . 73 

Daisies. 18 

Don’t.88 

Enough. 68 

Epilogue.65 

Faults.* ...38 

For Grandpa’s Sake. 19 

George Washington. 75 


3 






















4 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Getting at the Point. 8 

Gettysburg.86 

Gingerbread Land.42 

God Sees Me.74 

Golden Rule, The..,. 29 

Grandpa’s Spectacles.66 

He and She.57 

Helen’s Babies.89 

His Neighbor’s Wife.81 

History, A. 24 

Hoe out your Row. 25 

If a Brother. 55 

If Ifs and Ands. 55 

Jack Frost. 58 

Kitty Knew. 20 

Lesson, A.48 

Lighthouse, The.60 

Little Brown Wren.47 

Little Girl’s Wonder, A.87 

Little Housekeeper, The.63 

Little Lambkins, The.80 

Little Paul’s Thanksgiving. 52 

Little Schoolma’am, The.69 

Little Things.23 

Look on the Sunny Side... 63 

Love your Brother. 56 

Message of the Flowers.......39 

My Three Little Texts. 15 

New-Year’s Vows. 62 































CONTENTS. 


5 

PAGE 

Note to Santa Claus. 50 

One by One.82 

Opening Speech . u 

Origin of the Red Moss Rose. 16 

Peace .68 

Perplexing Question, A. 20 

Persevere. 70 

Polly’s Dilemma.44 

Prologue . 7 

Puzzling Question, A. 21 

Queer Hole, A. 14 

Rose and the Sunflower, The.67 

Salutatory.9, 18 

Sandman’s Daughter, The. 14 

Secret, The. 54 

Sick Little Girl, The.,.10 

Something to Remember. 21 

Speech for a Boy. 53 

Sugar-Plum Tree, The.31 

Sunbeam Fairies.85 

Taking Care of Him Nights. 58 

Tiny Little Snowflakes.28 

Two Robin Redbreasts. 27 

Useful Possession, A.42 

Valedictory. 22 

Victor, The.39 

Voyage in an Arm-Chair.29 

Waiting. 38 

Washington’s Birthday.. 59 































6 


CONTENTS. 




PAGE 

Week of Work, A. 26 

Were I the Sun.44 

What He Would Give Up. 51 

What is Good?. 73 

When I Dit Drowed. 45 

Windmill, The.49 

Witty Retort, A..65 









DICK’S 

LITTLE FOLKS’ RECITER. 


PROLOGUE. 

{Child enters , blowing a horn.) 

I am the herald of a band of brothers—some of 
them sisters—who are going to show you what they 
can do. We do not know whether we shall bore you 
or please you; but if you will lend us your ears, we 
will try not to bore them. Anyway, we bid you wel¬ 
come, and if we succeed in sending you all home 
happy, we shall be happy too. 

The show will now begin. (Blows horn and retires.) 

7 



8 


dick’s little 


GETTING AT THE POINT. 

Of course it was a sin 
For him to stick a pin 
In the chair 

Where his parent often sat, 

But he didn’t think of that— 
Didn’t care. 

On the cushion soft and fat 
Lay his father’s Sunday hat. 
And he knew 

That he’d never stop to look 
For the tiny, pointed hook 
Sticking through. 

So behind the lounge he got, 
For he thought he’d rather not 
Be around 

When the parent raised the hat 
And upon the pin-point sat— 
Judgment sound. 

Then he heard his father’s step, 
And another, but he kept 
Like a mouse. 

The new parson, sure as fate, 
Moved into the place of late, 
Souls to rouse. 


folks’ reciter. 


9 


Host from chair removed his hat, 
Bade him seat himself in that, 
And he did. 

From inspired lips there fell 
Earnest words and curdling yell, 
All unbid. 

Now that boy has lost his vim, 
And a seat that just suits him 
Must be soft. 

And he wears a weary frown, 

And you’ll note he don’t sit down 
Very oft. 


SALUTATORY. 

Our exhibition has begun ; 

We hope to give you feast and fun, 
And make you pass a pleasant hour, 
If it is in school-children’s power. 
We have some dialogues to say, 

And some of us will act a play, 

To let you see what we can do, 
Before our entertainment’s through. 
In speeches, too, we all take pride; 
We hope you will be satisfied, 

And that all present will enjoy 
Whatever’s done by girl or boy. 



IO 


DICK’S LITTLE 


And though we fail for want of skill, 
Applaud us, please, with right good will. 


THE SICK LITTLE GIRL. 

Out of the window, as I lie, 

Through the half-open blind 
I see the flock of clouds go by; 

Their shepherd is the wind; 

He calls and calls them all night through 
To go the way he wants them to. 

I hear the nightingales that call 
When nurse is fast asleep, 

And then along the nursery wall 
The shadow-people creep. 

They come out of the night-light’s shade; 
I wish there were no night-lights made. 


I see the squares of sunshine lie 
Upon the papered wall; 

I wish those papery flowers would die, 
And let their petals fall; 

I am so tired of counting up 
Each leaf and stem and bell and cup. 



folks’ reciter. 


I am so tired of everything! 

The pillow and the sheet, 

The nasty milky things they bring 
And tell me I must eat; 

And all the others romp and play, 
And have jam puddings every day! 

Oh, when I’m well I will be good, 
I’ll learn the things I hate, 

I’ll never grumble at my food 
Or ask to sit up late. 

Oh, if you’re only well and. out 
You’ve nothing to complain about! 


OPENING SPEECH. 

FOR A SMALL BOY. 

It is a trying thing to me 
To get up here where all can see, 

And make a speech before a crowd, 
For you must know I can’t speak loud. 

But then I thought, as I was dressed, 
I’d come and do my very best; 

Some credit you will give me now, 

As to the ladies here I bow. 



12 


DICK’S LITTLE 


CLOSING SPEECH. 

FOR A BOY OR GIRL. 

We have but one more word to say, 

As sinks the day to rest; 

We hope you’re pleased at what you’ve 
heard— 

We’ve tried to do our best. 

We’re glad to see you often here; 

And when you come, we’ll try 
To entertain you with our words, 

But now we’ll say “ Good-by.” 


BED-TIME. 

What do grown folks do, mama, 
After we children go? 

Do they light up all the candles, 
And set them along in a row, 

And dance, and play sweet music? 
Oh, I wish that I could know! 

Do they tell delightful stories, 

Which we should like to hear, 
And bring out oranges and nuts, 
Making no noise, for fear 
The children in bed should waken 
And come down when they hear? 



folks’ reciter. 


13 


It must be so very pleasant 
To stay downstairs and be 
Like the rest of the grown-up people, 
For always it seems to me 
That it is the very best time of all; 

But I never stayed to see. 

Once when I was very little, 

And nursey had gone to sleep, 

I stole downstairs in my nightgown, 

As softly as I could creep, 

And put my eye to the keyhole, 

Just to get one little peep; 

But some one opened the door then, 

And saw me in the hall, 

And caught and carried me back to bed, 
And waked up nurse with a call; 

And she scolded and scolded like fury, 
And I saw nothing, after all. 

When shall I be big enough, mama— 

Do tell me exactly when— 

To stay up as late as you do, 

Or as late as I like? For then 
I will sit up all night, and never, 

Never go to bed again. 



dick’s little 


14 


A QUEER HOLE. 

I have heard of a boy who lived long ago— 

For such boys are not found nowadays, you know— 
Whose friends were as troubled as they could be 
Because of a hole in his memory. 

A charge from his mother went in one day, 

And the boy said “Yes,” and hurried away; 

But he met a man with a musical top, 

And his mother’s words through that hole did drop. 

A lesson went in, but—ah me! ah me! 

For a boy with a hole in his memory! — 

When he rose to recite he was all in a doubt; 
Every word of that lesson had fallen out. 

And at last, at last—oh, terrible lot! — 

He could speak only two words, “ I forgot.” 
Would it not be sad, indeed, to be 
A boy with a hole in his memory? 


THE SAHDMAH’S DAUGHTER. 

You all of you know the sandman old, 
Who comes when evening lowers, 
And cradles the sleeping children small 
Through the silent midnight hours. 



folks’ reciter. 


15 


But I wonder if mother ever sings 

From the lore that love has taught her 
Of the fairy with beautiful starry wings, 
Fenella, the sandman’s daughter? 

When good little chicks are fast asleep, 

The sandman tall doth send her. 

And while every one’s locked in slumber deep, 
With eyes so soft and tender, 

And a wonderful glint of a wing that gleams 
(Though none has ever caught her), 

’Tis Fenella that brings the beautiful dreams; 
Fenella, the sandman’s daughter. 

So see that you try to be good, my pet, 

And try with all your powers, 

Or never a bit of a dream you’ll get 
Though you slumber on for hours. 

She knows who’s naughty, you may be sure, 
For the sandman well has taught her; 

And she only brings dreams to the good and pure, 
Fenella, the sandman’s daughter. 


“MY THREE LITTLE TEXTS.” 

I am very young and little; 

lam only just turned two; 

And I cannot learn big chapters, 
As my elder sisters do. 



i6 


dick’s little 


But I know three little verses 

That my mama has taught to me, 
And I say them every morning 
As I stand beside her knee. 

The first is, “ Thou, God, seest me.” 

Is it not a pretty text? 

And “ Suffer the little children 
To come unto Me,” is the next. 

But the last one is the shortest; 

It is only, “ God is love.” 

How kind He is in sending 
Such sweet verses from above! 

He knows the chapters I can’t learn, 
So I think He sent those three 
Short, easy texts on purpose 
For little ones like me. 


ORIGIN OF THE RED MOSS ROSE. 

Within a garden’s quiet close 
There grew an unassuming rose; 

It blossomed fair in simple white, 
And sparkled in the noonday light; 
Delicious fragrance it exhaled, 

And all the neighborhood regaled. 
Claretta, sauntering careless by, 

Cast on it her disdainful eye; 



folks’ reciter. 


T 7 


“ The odor’s sweet, ’tis true,” she said, 

And coldly turned her dainty head, 

“ But if I knew the way or rule, 

I’d make the flower more beautiful.” 

The sweet flower, hearing what she said, 
Blushed to a deep and charming red. 

When came the closing hours of day, 

An angel passed along the way; 

Weary and travel-stained, he made 
His bed beneath its grateful shade, 

Where, through the dusky gloom of night, 
He sweetly slept till morning light; 

Then, rising from refreshing sleep, 

His gratitude was warm and deep. 

“ How shall I compensate the flower? ” 

He asked. “ May Heaven give me power 
To add new beauty, greater charms, 

And more attractions; ” and his arms 
He raised to Deity on high, 

His face uplifted to the sky. 

“ Grant me Thine aid, that I may toss 
On every bud a tuft of moss, 

Which ever after shall appear 
Upon its blossoms year by year.” 

The prayer was heard, the answer given, 
And kind assistance drawn from Heaven; 
And thus, as the quaint story goes, 

Began the beauteous Red Moss Rose* 


i8 


dick’s little 


DAISIES. 

At evening, when I go to bed, 

I see the stars shine overhead; 

They are the little daisies white 
That dot the meadow of the night. 

And often while I’m dreaming so, 

Across the sky the moon will go; 

It is a lady sweet and fair, 

Who comes to gather daisies there. 

For, when at morning I arise, 

There’s not a star left in the skies; 

She’s picked them all and dropped them 
down 

Into the meadows of the town. 


SALUTATORY. 

Ladies and gentlemen! (bows) I come 
To greet each welcome guest; 

And though I am an awkward lad, 

I’ll try to do my best. 

This is the first time in my life 
(Will you believe the story?) 

That I was ever called upon 
For a salutatory. 



folks” reciter. 


J 9 


But some one always has to be 
The first to rise and speak; 

And thus to stand before a crowd 
Requires “ lots of cheek.” 

But now I’m here, I’ll own the truth— 
I scarce know what to say, 

For I can never hope to be 
A Webster or a Clay. 

I know ’tis said that any boy, 

In this free country, grand, 

Can, if he tries, become at last 
Chief ruler o’er the land. 

This once was true; but now, alas! 

The boldest cunning knave 
Can rise to just the highest place 
His craven heart may crave. 

But I am like old Henry Clay, 

Who said with proud intent, 

“ I’d rather, far, be right than be 
The nation’s President! ” 


FOR GRANDPA’S SAKE. 

My grandpa went to war long years ago— 

I never saw him, but they told me so, 

And how, after a battle, sad news came, 
Among the “ missing ” was my grandpa’s name. 



20 


dick’s little 


They never heard of him again, they said, 

And so we know that grandpa must be dead, 

And when I think of him, so good and brave, 

I wish we knew where he had found a grave. 

When Decoration Day comes, every year, 

I feel so sad, and sometimes shed a tear, 

To see the soldiers’ graves all spread with flowers, 
While grandpa cannot have one rose of ours. 

So if some little Southern girl should know 
A nameless grave where never blossoms grow, 

I’d love her so, if there some flowers she’d lay, 
For grandpa’s sake, this Decoration Day. 


PEXtPLEXING QUESTION. 

I’ve learned to say some words in French, 
I’ve studied them a week; 

What puzzles me, I do declare, 

Is how the babies over there 
In France can learn to speak. 


KITTY KNEW. 

Seven sheep were standing 
By the pasture wall; 

“ Tell me,” said the teacher 
To her scholars small: 




folks’ reciter. 


2 


“ One poor sheep was frightened, 
Jumped, and ran away; 

One from seven, how many 
Woolly sheep would stay? ” 

Up went Kitty’s fingers— 

A farmer’s daughter she, 

Not so bright at figures 
As she ought to bei 
“ Please, ma’am ”—“ Well then, Kitty, 
Tell us if you know” — 

“ Please, if one jumped over, 

All the rest would go.” 


A PUZZLIHG aUESTION. 

If all the trees were cherry-trees, 
And every little boy 
Should have, like young George 
Washington, 

A hatchet for his toy, 

And use it in a way unwise, 

What should we do for cherry pies? 


SOMETHING TO REMEMBER. 

Dear little boys whose birthday comes 
With Washington’s to-day, 




22 


DICK'S LITTLE 


You may not be the President 
(Although perhaps you may); 
But each who does the best he can 
May be, like him, a noble man. 


VALEDICTORY. 

Dear friends and parents, gathered here 
Upon this closing day, 

To cheer us by your sympathy, 

And aid us on our way, 

We thank you for the interest 
You have so kindly shown; 

We like to feel you care to know 
How fast and far we roam. 

It helps us when the days are long, 

And books are dull and dry, 

To know our course is watched from home 
By some kind, loving eye; 

And better still, when hard we’ve worked, 
And find success is near, 

To know it will bring pride and joy 
To those our hearts hold dear. 

Kind teacher, for your care and aid 
Our hearty thanks are due; 



folks’ reciter. 


2 3 


May fortune, in the years to come, 

Be always kind to you ; 

And may you have as pleasant thoughts 
Of all your pupils here, 

As we shall keep, through years to come, 
Of you, our teacher dear. 

My schoolmates, now I bring to you 
A smile, and yet a sigh, 

Because, our pleasant term is past, 

And we must say “ Good-by.” 

If there is aught to be forgiven, 

Let it be done to-day, 

And only happy memories 
Be those we bear away. 

Life is a school where all must learn; 

Oh, may we, every one, 

Work bravely there, till we receive 
The Teacher’s glad “Well done!” 


LITTLE THINGS. 

Suppose the little cowslip 
Should hang its golden cup, 
And say, “ I’m such a tiny flower, 
I’d better not grow up.” 



24 


DICK’S LITTLE 


How many a weary traveler 
Would miss its fragrant smell! 

How many a little child would grieve 
To miss it from the dell! 

Suppose the glistening dewdrop 
Upon the grass should say, 

“ What can a little dewdrop do? 

I’d better roll away.” 

The blade on which it rested, 

Before the day was* done, 

Without a drop to moisten it 
Would wither in the sun. 


A HISTORY. 

There was a man, so legend says, 
And he, how strange to tell! 

Was born upon the very day 
Whereon his birthday fell. 

He was a baby first, and then 
He was his parents’ joy; 

But was a man soon after, when 
He ceased to be a boy. 

And when he got to middle life, 
To marry was his whim; 

The selfsame day he took a wife 
Some woman wedded him. 



folks’ reciter. 


2 5 


None saw him to the other side 
Of Styx by Charon ferried; 
But ’tis conjectured that he died, 
Because he has been buried. 


HOE OUT YOUR ROW. 

One day a lazy farmer’s boy 
Was hoeing out the corn, 

And moodily had listened long 
To hear the dinner horn. 

The welcome blast was heard at last, 
And down he dropped his hoe; 

But the good man shouted in his ear: 
“ My boy, hoe out your row.” 

Although a “ hard one ” was the row, 
To use a plowman’s phrase, 

And the lad, as the sailors have it, 
Beginning well to “ haze,” 

“ I can,” said he, and manfully 
He seized again his hoe; 

And the good man smiled to see 
The boy hoe out his row. 

The text the lad remembered, 

And proved the moral well, 

That perseverance to the end 
At last will nobly tell. 



26 


dick’s little 


Take courage, man! resolve you can, 
And strike a vigorous blow; 

In life’s great field of varied toil, 
Always hoe out your row. 


A WEEK OF WORK. 

On Monday we will wash our clothes, 
And hang them up to dry ; 

On Tuesday we will iron them, 

And mend each hole we spy; 

On Wednesday we will make our bread, 
And sometimes, too, a cake; 

On Thursday we’ll receive our friends, 
And time for reading take; 

On Friday we will sweep and dust 
As nicely as we can; 

On Saturday for Sunday’s rest 
We’ll cook and work and plan. 


BESSIE’S TEXT. 

Bessie wanted to learn a text; 

She thought it such fun to be called " next,” 

As the children were at her Sunday-school, 
Where the teacher heard them by row and rule. 




folks’ reciter. 


2 7 


So we told her the shortest text we knew; 

And very solemn our baby grew 

As she walked about with a grown-up air, 

Twisting a curl of her flaxen hair. 

And over and over the words she said, 

Till “she knowed she’d dot ’em ’way in her head”; 
And “Jesus wept ” was her last good-night, 

And her daily greeting at morning light. 

The long week drew to a close at last, 

And the wished-for moment came too fast; 

For when her teacher smiled at her 
And called her “ next,” she could not stir. 

The tears were ready and would not stay; 

But a bright look chased them soon away, 

And she gave a spring to her teacher’s side. 

“ ' Next ’ does ’member her text: ‘ Cwist cwied.’ ” 


TWO ROBIN REDBREASTS. 

Two robin redbreasts in their nest 
Had little robins three; 

The mother bird sat still at home, 
Her mate sang merrily, 

And all the little robins said, 

“ Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee! ” 



28 


DICK’S LITTLE 


One day the sun was warm and bright, 
And shining in the sky; 

The mother said, “ My little ones, 

’Tis time you learned to fly!” 

And all the little robins said, 

"We’ll try! we’ll try! we’ll try!” 


TINY LITTLE SNOWFLAKES. 

Tiny little snowflakes 
In the air so high, 

Are you little angels 
Floating in the sky? 
Robed so white and spotless, 
Flying like a dove, 

Are you little creatures 
From the world above? 

Whirling on the sidewalk, 
Dancing in the street, 
Kissing all the faces 
Of the children sweet, 
Loading all the housetops, 
Powdering all the trees— 
Cunning little snowflakes, - 
Little busy bees! 



folks’ reciter. 


2 9 


THE GOLDEN RULE. 

To do to all men as I would 
That they should do to me, 

Will make me kind and just and good, 
As each dear child should be. 

I know I should not steal or use 
The least thing that is thine; 

For I should never like to lose 
That thing if it were mine. 

I should not give a child a blow, 

Or call him a bad name; 

For I should feel a pain, I know, 

If he did to me the same. 

To do to all, then, as I would 
That they should do to me, 

Will make me kind and just and good, 
And so I’ll try to be. 


A VOYAGE IN THE ARM-CHAIR. 

O pa, dear papa! we’ve had such a fine game; 

We played at a sail on the sea; 

The old arm-chair made such a beautiful ship, 
And it sailed, oh, as nice as could be! 



30 


dick’s little 


We made Mary the captain, and Bob was the 
boy 

Who cried, ■“ Ease her,” “ Back her,” and “ Slow,” 
And Jane was the steersman who stands at the 
wheel, 

And I watched the engines below. 

We had for a passenger grandmama’s cat, 

And as Tom couldn’t pay he went free. 

From the fireside we started at half-past two, 

And we got to the sideboard at three. 

But oh! only think, dear papa, when half-way, 
Tom overboard jumped to the floor; 

And though we cried out, “Tom, come back, 
don’t be drowned!” 

He galloped right out at the door. 

But, pa, dear papa, listen one moment more, 

Till I tell you the end of our sail. 

From the sideboard we went at five minutes past 
three, 

And at four o’clock saw such a whale. 

The whale was the sofa, and it, dear papa, 

Is at least twice as large as our ship. 

Our captain called out, “ Turn the ship round 
about; 

Oh, I wish we had not come this trip! ” 


folks’ reciter. 


31 

And we all cried, “ Oh yes, let us get away home, 
And hide in some corner quite snug.” 

So we sailed for the fireside as quick as we could, 
And we landed all safe on the rug. 


THE SUGAR-PLUM TREE. 

Have you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree? 

’Tis a marvel of great renown! 

It blooms on the shore of the Lollypop Sea, 

In the garden of Shut-Eye Town. 

The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet 
(As those who have tasted it say) 

That good little children have only to eat 
Of that fruit to be happy next day. 

When you’ve got to the tree, you would have a 
hard time 

To capture the fruit which I sing; 

The tree is so tall that no person could climb 
To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing! 
But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat, 

And a gingerbread dog prowls below, 

And this is the way you contrive to get at 
Those sugar-plums tempting you so: 

You say but the word to that gingerbread dog, 
And he barks with such terrible zest 



3 2 


dick’s little 


That the chocolate cat is at once all agog, 

As her swelling proportions attest; 

And the chocolate cat goes cavorting around 
From this leafy limb unto that, 

And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the 
ground — 

Hurrah for that chocolate cat! 

There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and pepper¬ 
mint canes 

With stripings of scarlet or gold, 

And you carry away of the treasure that rains 
As much as your apron can hold! 

So come, little child, cuddle closer to me 
In your dainty white napkin and gown, 

And I’ll rock you away to that Sugar-Plum Tree 
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town. 


CHOICE OF OCCUPATION. 

FOR SIX GIRLS. 

FIRST GIRL. 

I believe I’d like to be a nurse, 
And wear a pretty cap ; 

I think it very nice to hold 
A baby in my lap. 



folks’ reciter. 


33 


And I’d take care of sick folks too; 

How funny it would be 
To stay up all the livelong night 
Awake, and making tea. 

SECOND GIRL. 

I think I’ll sing at concerts, 

And have such lovely gowns; 
And I shall travel all the time, 

And visit all the towns. 

You’ll see my name in all the bills, 
In letters wide and long, 

And all the folks will say of me, 

“ Yes, she’s the queen of song.” 

THIRD GIRL. 

I’m going to be a doctor, 

And I’ll be so very wise; 

I’ll look at all the people’s tongues, 
And then I’ll shut my eyes, 

Say, u Hem! Ah, yes, yes—fever,” 
And pour the med’cine down, 
And folks will say that I’m the best 
Physician in the town. 

FOURTH GIRL. 

I guess I’ll be a teacher; 

But I won’t have any rule 


34 


dick’s little 


To make the children study hard, 

Or stay in after school; 

I wouldn’t scold if they should want 
To tell some little jokes, 

For boys and girls like fun sometimes 
As well as other folks. 

FIFTH GIRL. 

I’m going to be a lady, 

And go shopping every day; 

And when I get too many things 
I’ll give them all away 
To people who are very poor; 

And I’ll go to all the balls; 

And when I’ve nothing else to do, 

I’ll go and make some calls. 

SIXTH GIRL. 

I’m going to be a “ sister,” 

And wear a plain black dress; 

And I won’t need to frizz my hair, 
Nor wear tight shoes. I guess 
I wouldn’t get so very tired 
Of walking round all day, 

And asking people for old clothes— 
I’ll try it, anyway. 



folks’ reciter. 


35 


CHOICE OF OCCUPATION. 

FOR FOUR BOYS. 

FIRST BOY. 

I think I’ll be a blacksmith; 

I’ll build a roaring fire, 

I’ll have my bellows and I’ll blow 
The sparks up high and higher; 

I’ll make the finest kind of show 
For all the girls and boys, 

And nobody will ever say, 

“Do stop that awful noise.” 

SECOND BOY. 

I’ll be a farmer; I shall have 
Barns full of corn and wheat, 

And a stable filled with horses, 

And lots of things to eat. 

I’ll have apples, peaches, pears, and plums, 
Potatoes, melons, jams; 

A horse to ride, and cows to milk, 

And sheep with little lambs. 

THIRD BOY. 

I’ll be an editor; I’ll make 
The papers that you read; 

I’ll know the stories of the wars, 

And all about the speed 


3 6 


dick’s little 


Of horses at the fairs and things, 

And how elections go; 

I’ll have passes on the railroads and 
To every kind of show. 

FOURTH BOY. 

I think I’ll take to politics; 

I’ll see how laws are made; 

I’ll find out what protection is, 

And all about free trade; 

And when I go to make a speech, 

How folks will run to see, 

And wave their hats, fire guns, and name 
Their babies after me! 


THE BEST SEASON. 

When winter comes with all its joys 
And gleaming, snaw-white ground, 
With sleigh-bells, sliding, skates, and sleds, 
And snow-balls soft and round, 

Why, then, I’m always certain 
That, far above the rest,— 

Spring, summer, and the autumn,— 

I love the winter best. 

But then, when spring once more is here, 
And trees put on their green, 



folks’ reciter. 


37 


And buds, from cradles bursting forth, 
May everywhere be seen, 

Why, then, I’m just as certain 
That, over all the rest,— 

The winter, summer, autumn,— 

I love sweet spring the best. 

When summer comes in radiant dress, 
And sunshine floods the land, 

And blossoms, buds, and butterflies 
Are seen on every hand, 

It’s quite beyond disputing 

That, far more than the rest,— 

The winter, spring, and autumn,— 

I love sweet summer best. 

\ 

When autumn, with her paint-brush rich, 
Is tinting all the leaves, 

And sweet farewells are twitted us 
By swallows from the eaves, 

Then in my heart I’m certain 
That, beyond all the rest,— 

The winter, spring, or summer,— 

I love bright autumn best. 



3§ 


dick’s little 


WAITING. 

When sudden temptation doth strongly assail thee, 
Then pause and reflect, ere forever too late; 
When noble resolves are beginning to fail thee, 

It is wisdom indeed to consider and wait. 

But when conscience is urging to duty, whatever 
That duty may be, either trifling or great, 

Delay not a moment and hesitate never— 

In all that is right it is sinful to wait. 


FAULTS. 

What are another’s faults to me ? 

I’ve not a vulture’s bill 
To peck at every fault I see 
And make it wider still. 

Is it not enough for me to know 
I’ve follies of my own? 

On my own heart the care bestow, 
And let my friends alone. 




folks’ reciter. 


39 


THE VICTOR. 

He who sits at home and dreads 
To brave the foeman’s steel 
Will never wear the golden spurs 
That wait the victor’s heel. 

But he who fights with manly heart 
Where’er he findeth sin 
Shall march, a conquering hero, home; 
He cannot fail to win. 


THE MESSAGE OF THE FLOWERS. 

FOR FIVE GIRLS. 

Characters . 

Rose, Ivy, 

Violet, Snowdrop, 

Lily. 

Each girl should have in her hand the flower she represents, 
and at the last verse they should be placed together so as to form 
a bouquet. (Artificial flowers would do very well.) 

ROSE. 

They call me the queen of the garden; 

My subjects are loyal and true; 

Arrayed in our beauty and fragrance, 

We come with a message for you. 



4° 


dick’s little 


The emblems of love and devotion 
Are Ivy and Lily and Rose; 

The Violet sweet and the Snowdrop 
Will constancy’s secrets disclose. 

VIOLET. 

A crimson blush of dazzling hue 
Falls sweetly on. the garden’s pride; 

But Heaven bathes in gentle dew 
The floweret by her side. 

Low in my shady nook I grow, 

Of graceful form and modest mien, 

And, faithful still in weal or woe, 

The Violet is seen. 

IVY. 

Speak not of faith! Where will you find 

A tie that will more surely bind 
Than Ivy, green and strong? 

When friend from friend is forced to part, 

I wreathe my tendrils round each heart 
In trust that lingers long. 

SNOWDROP. 

I bring the silver lining 
To clouds of darkest hue; 

Where Snowdrop fair is twining 
There hope is breaking through. 


folks’ reciter. 


4 


LILY. 

Faith and hope, or strength and beauty, 
Cannot comfort or endure 

If each thought of love and duty 
Is not, like the Lily, pure. 

ROSE. 

Thus I bring you dreams of beauty; 

VIOLET. 

Here my faithfulness I tell; 

IVY. 

Thus I knit the bonds of friendship 
Where the friends love others well. 

SNOWDROP. 

Soft I whisper to the weary, 

“ Hope is still the better part;” 

LILY. 

And I bring thee words of Heaven: 

“ Blessed are the pure in heart.” > 

ALL. 

Thus we bring the fragrant beauty 
Of the garden’s fairest bowers; 

Thus to strengthen faith and duty 
Comes the message of the flowers. 


4 2 


DICK S LITTLE 


A USEFUL POSSESSION. 

If a string is in a knot, 

Patience will untie it. 

Patience can do many things; 

Did you ever try it? 

If ’twas sold at any shop 
I should like to buy it; 

But you and I must find our own; 
No other can supply it. 


GINGERBREAD LAND. 

I had such a wonderful, wonderful dream: 

A fairy took hold of my hand, 

And, mounting a moonbeam, she carried me off 
To far-away Gingerbread Land. 

If you could have walked in those beautiful streets, 
If you could have smelt what I smelt, 

If you could have peeped there and seen what I 
saw, 

If you could have felt as I felt! 

There was gingersnap slating—now would you be¬ 
lieve ?— 

All over a gingerbread house, 



folks’ reciter. 


43 


With gingerbread cookies for tiling below— 

What a place for a boy or a mouse! 

The boys and the girls were of gingerbread too, 

And wore only gingerbread clothes; 

The trees and the bushes were bent to the ground 
With gingernuts hanging in rows; 

There were gingerbread horses and gingerbread dogs; 
And soon, to my wonder and joy, 

I saw, as I looked at my hands and my feet, 

That I was a gingerbread boy. 

And then I was hungry and hunted about 
For daintiest pieces to find; 

You see, with such plenty on every side 
I hardly could make up my mind. 

But while I was waiting the fairy was gone; 

The gingerbread went out of sight; 

Alack and alack and alack! I awoke 
Before I had taken a bite! 

Oh, oh! if I only could take it again, 

That journey so jolly and grand, 

I surely would make better use of my time 
In beautiful Gingerbread Land. 



44 


dick’s little 


POLLY’S DILEMMA. 

There’s something that I’ve thought 
I wish you’d ’splain to me: 

Why when the weather’s warm 
There’s leaves on every tree, 

And when they need them most 
To keep them warm and nice 
They lose off all their clothes 
And look as cold as ice? 

Of course it’s right for folks, 

But I’m thinking ’bout the trees. 
I’d like to wrap them up in shawls 
For fear they’re going to freeze. 


WERE I THE SUN. 

I’d always shine on holidays, 

Were I the sun; 

On sleepyheads I’d never gaze, 
But focus all my morning rays 
On busy folks of bustling ways, 
Were I the sun. 

I would not melt a sledding snow, 
Were I the sun; 



FOLKS’ RECITER. 


45 


Nor spoil the ice where skaters go, 

Nor help those useless weeds to grow, 
But hurry melons on, you know, 

Were I the sun. 

I’d warm the swimming-pool just right, 
Were I the sun; 

On school-days I would hide my light, 
The Fourth I’d always give you bright, 
Nor set so soon on Christmas night, 
Were I the sun. 

I would not heed such paltry toys, 
Were I the sun— 

Such work as grown-up man employs; 
But I would favor solid joys ; 

In short, I’d run the world for boys, 
Were I the sun! 


WHEff I BIT BROWED. 

I’m only des’ a ’ittle boy, 

Not more’n ’bout free years old; 

An’ sometimes, when I’m naughty, zen 
My mama she ’ill stold; 



4 5 


dick’s little 


But I dess I’ll do ze bestest sings 
Anybody ever knowed; 

For I’m doin’ to be ze doodest man 
When 

I 

Dit 

Drowed. 

My drate bid sister’s dot a beau 
Who tomes here all ze time; 

An’ when I do into ze room 
He des’ dives me a dime 

An’ says I look so s’eepy zat 
He dess it’s time I doed; 

But I’m doin’ to tourt some dirl myse’f 
When 

I 

Dit 

Drowed. 

My aunty’s dot a baby boy 
No bidder ’an a doll; 

He’s dot ze funniest ’ittle eyes 
An’ mos’ no nose a-tall. 

But his papa says ze baby is 
A tunnin’ ’ittle toad, 

An’ I’m doin’ to buy one des’ like him 
When 

I 

Dit 


Drowed. 


folks’ reciter. 


47 


When I dit to be a drate bid man, 

I won’t be so mean, I dess, 

As to tall a ’ittle boy a dirl 
Des’ ’tause he wears a dress; 

But I’ll dit some waddins full of dolls 
An’ dive ’ittle dirls a load, 

’Tause I’m doin’ to be a Santa Tlaus 
When 

I 

Dit 

Drowed. 


THE LITTLE BROV/N WREN. 

There’s a little brown wren that has built in our tree, 
And she’s scarcely as big as a big bumblebee. 

She has hollowed a house in the heart of a limb 
And made the walls tidy and made the floor trim 
With the down of the crowfoot, with tow, and with 
straw— 

The coziest dwelling that ever you saw. 

This little brown wren has the brightest of eyes 
And a foot of a very diminutive size; 

Her tail is as trig as the sail of a ship; 

She’s demure, though she walks with a hop and a skip ; 
And her voice—but a flute were more fit than a pen 
To tell of the voice of the little brown wren. 



4 8 


dick’s little 


One morning Sir Sparrow came sauntering by 
And cast on the wren’s house an envious eye. 

With a strut of bravado and toss of his head, 

“ I’ll put in my claim here,” the bold fellow said. 
So straightway he mounted on impudent wing 
And entered the door without pausing to ring. 

An instant—and swiftly that feathery knight, 

All tousled and tumbled, in terror took flight; 
While there by the door on her favorite perch, 

As neat as a lady just starting for church, 

With this song on her lips, “ He will not call again 
Unless he is asked,” sat the little brown wren. 


A LESSON. 

A little lass with golden hair, 

A little lass with brown, 

A little lass with raven locks, 

Went tripping off to town. 

“ I like the golden hair the best,” 

“And I prefer the brown,” ' 

“ And I the black,” three sparrows said— 
Three sparrows of the town. 

“Tu-whit! tu-whoo!” an old owl cried 
From the belfry in the town, 



folks’ reciter. 


49 


“ Glad-hearted lassies need not mind 
If locks be gold, black, brown. 

Tu-whit! tu-whoo! so fast, so fast 
The sands of life run down, 

And soon, so soon, three white-haired dames 
Will totter through the town. 

Gone then for aye the raven locks, 

The golden hair, the brown, 

And she will fairest be whose face 
Has never worn a frown.” 


THE WINDMILL. 

The windmill’s fans, around they go 
As fresh’ning breezes on them blow; 
They crush our oats, they grind our corn, 
And busy are both night and morn. 

When blow the wild November gales 
Swift go the arms and full the sails; 

With joy the miller’s heart doth swell; 
He knows his mill is grinding well. 

But when the summer sunbeams burn 
The lazy fans will scarcely turn; 

The puffs of wind come faint and slow, 
And then the mill will scarcely go. 



dick’s little 


The miller with displeasure sees 
How light and lighter grows the breeze; 
And soon, alas! it wholly drops, 

And then the busy windmill stops. 


A NOTE TO SANTA CLAUS. 

Upon a snowy Christmas eve 
In line the stockings hung; 

Puss lay asleep upon the rug; 

The clock tick-tocked and swung 
Its heavy pendulum to and fro; 

The hands went round the face 
And marked the numbers and the hours 
As they flew on apace. 

The clock is striking out the hour; 

’Tis twelve o’clock it tells, 

When out upon the midnight clear 
Come merry sounds of bells. 

Look! down the chimney black and grim 
Saint Nick and pack appear; 

He one by one the stockings fills; 

Then cries, “ What have we here? ” 

For there upon the mantel-shelf, 
c The last one in the row, 



folks’ reciter. 


51 


Was hung a stocking, oh! so big, 

With note pinned to the toe. 

“ What’s this? ” cried Santa, with a laugh, 
As he the note did spy. 

“To Santa Claus from the North Pole”— 
I’ll peep as I go by. 

And as he read his eyes grew bright, 

He smiled, and bobbed his head; 

For in that note pinned to the toe 
This kind request he read: 

“ Dear Santa, will you kindly fill 
This stocking for the poor, 

And give us less this Christmas-tide? 
(Signed) Willie and Fred Moore.” 

“ Ho, ho! ” said Santa, with a smile, 

“ Kind little folks live here; 

This stocking will I fill to top 
With loving, hearty cheer. 

A happy Christmas will I leave 
To Willie and Fred Moore, 

Who, ’mid their joy, did not forget 
A stocking for the poor.” 


WHAT HE WOULD GIVE UP. 

When mama said, “ Now, children dear, 
You know that it is Lent; 



52 


dick’s little 


Some blessing you should sacrifice 
Which Heaven to you has sent,” 

Our ten-year-old made haste to say, 

“You promised me a dress, 

And I say I will give that up; 

’Twill be enough, I guess.” 

■ ■ Well, I love sugar in my tea— 

Three* lumps, and sometimes four; 

If I agree to go without, 

You could not ask for more,” 

Said number two, with thoughtful face 
And wisely nodding head; 

While number three was thinking fast— 

Our roguish little Fred. 

“ I want to dive up sumfin’ big, 

’Cause I ain’t very dood, 

But when my fings was dive to me 
I touldn’t if I would.” 

Then, while his bright eyes shone like stars, 
With manners calm and cool, 

He said, “ I fink dat I will try 
An’ dive up doin’ to school.” 


LITTLE PAUL’S THANKSGIVING. 

They tossed him and they squeezed him 
And they kissed him, one and all; 



folks’ reciter. 


53 


They said, “You blessed, blessed boy!” 
And, “ Darling little Paul!” 

But they didn’t give him turkey, 

Nor any pumpkin pie, 

And when the nuts and grapes went round 
They slyly passed him by. 

But he didn’t seem to mind it, 

For in the sweetest way 
He sat and sucked his little thumb— 

His first Thanksgiving day. 


SPEECH FOR A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY. 

I did not want to speak to-night, 

But could not have my way; 

And, now I’ve come before you all, 

I don’t know what to say. 

I am so scared, you all can see, 

That I can hardly talk; 

So none of you need be surprised 
If I do make a balk. 

You don’t know how a fellow.feels 
Who is about my age 

When he gets up to make a speech 
The first time on the stage. 



54 


dick’s little 


His face turns white and red by turns; 

He shakes from arm to heel; 

And if a lady looks at him 
His head begins to reel. 

I hope the effort I have made 
This audience will admire, 

And while you wish to criticize 
Permit me to retire. 


THE SECRET. 

We have a secret, just we three, 

The robin and I and the sweet cherry-tree; 
The bird told the tree, and the tree told me, 
And nobody knows it but just us three. 

But of course the robin knows it best 
Because he built the—I sha’n’t tell the rest; 
And laid the four little—somethings—in it— 

I am afraid I shall tell it every minute. 

But if the tree and the robin don’t peep 
I’ll try my best the secret to keep; 

Though I know when the little birds fly about 
Of course the whole secret will then be out. 



folks’ reciter. 


55 


IF IFS Am AHBS. 

If the old woman who lived in a shoe 
Had lived in a cottage instead, 

Her children could have played at hide-and-seek, 
And needn’t have been sent to bed. 

If little Bo-peep hadn’t lost her sheep 
She wouldn’t have had to find them. 

If little Boy Blue never had any sheep 
He wouldn’t have had to mind them. 

If the goose that laid the golden eggs 
Had not been killed that day, 

She’d still be laying golden eggs 
As hard as she could lay. 

In fact, if we could manage things, 

How different they would be! 

But, as we can’t, we’ll let them stay 
Just as they are, you see. 


IF A BROTHER. 

If a brother meet a brother 
Fallen very low, 

Should a brother leave a brother 
Farther down to go? 



56 dick’s little 

Everybody needs a body 
Kindly words to say, 

When a brother meets a brother 
Falling by the way. 

If a brother meet a brother, 

Let him understand 
That a brother needs a brother 
With a helping hand. 
Everybody should a body 
Help as best he may, 

When a brother meets a brother 
Falling by the way. 


LOVE YOUR BROTHER. 

I knew a little boy; 

He very often crept 
In sadness to his brother’s grave 
And laid him down and wept. 

One day I asked him why 
He wept so long and sore; 

And, weeping still, he said, 

“ Because I did not love him more; 

“ Sometimes I was not kind, 
Sometimes in anger spake.” 



folks’ reciter. 


57 


And then he turned away and sobbed 
As if his heart would break. 

Our brothers dear are given 
In mercy from above; 

Oh! may I often think of this, 

And never fail in love. 

_ 

t>< inii ij nbfubw no / zwu] 

HE AND SHE. 

He was a mighty, rolling river; 

She w'as a little, rippling rill. 

He was a mountain naught could shiver; 
She was a tiny, shifting hill. 

He was a lion, loudly roaring; 

She was a lambkin, born to love. 

He was an eagle, proudly soaring; 

She was a gentle, cocing dove. 

He was a sturdy oak defiant; 

She was a slender, clinging vine. 

He was a brave and brawny giant; 

She was a wee thing feminine. 

Ah, but the day when they went shopping 
She was the one who took the lead; 
She was the earth, so far o’ertopping 
Him that he seemed a mustard-seed. 




58 


DICK S LITTLE 


TAKING CAKE OF HIM NIGHTS. 

Rob is the nicest baby, 

He hardly ever cries ; 

And oh, he is just too lovely 

When he shuts his dark-blue eyes! 

Don’t you wish you could see him? 

It is worth a thousand sights! 

I guess you wouldn’t think so 

If you had to take care of him nights. 

I’m glad he is just so little! 

Wait till he slams the doors! 

Wait till he stamps and shouts and screams 
Until he shakes the floors! 

Wait, till he wears great rubber boots 
And teases for balls and kites! 

I guess you’d be glad to have him grow 
If you had to take care of him nights! 


JACK FROST. 

Jack Frost peeped in at the window 
One cold, cold winter day; 

He wanted to pinch the fingers 
And nose of little May. 



folks’ reciter. 


59 


But May was eating her breakfast 
Of hot new milk and bread; 

So he said, “ I must wait and catch her 
When she comes outside instead.” 

Jack Frost waited in the garden 
Till May came dancing along, 
Wrapped in her furs so warmly 
And singing a little song. 

And she bounded along so lightly, 

And never once had a fall, 

And smiled in his face so brightly, 

Jack Frost could not catch her at all. 


WASHINGTON. 

FOR A LITTLE BOY. 

Oh, how the world remembers! 

It is many and many a day 
Since the patriot, George Washington, 
Grew old and passed away. 

And yet to-day we are keeping 
The memory of his birth, 

And his deeds of truth and valor 
Are told at every hearth. 

How he fought for independence 
All little school-boys know; 



6 o 


dick’s little 


And why we signed the Declaration 
A hundred years ago. 

To be as great as Washington 
I could not if I would, 

But I’ve made up my mind that I 
Will try to be as good. 


THE LIGHTHOUSE. 

A man once built a lighthouse, 

And he built it on a rock, 

And he boasted it should bear unscathed 
The storm’s severest shock. 

“ Of engineers I’ll be,” quoth he, 

“The proudest and the first; 

There stands my work, and it shall stand; 
The waves may do their worst.” 

And stand it did, amid the sea, 

Amid the shifting sand; 

A fairer work to look upon 
Ne’er came from mortal hand. 

Forth went the word! the winds arose, 
The waves came thundering on. 

At sundown it was standing; i 1 
The day broke—it was gone! 



folks’ reciter. 


6i 


Another engineer then came, 

A wiser, humbler man, 

One who revered his Maker’s Word 
And loved His works to scan; 

He stood before a forest oak 
And marked its structure well; 

He saw its slowly tapering height, 

Its bold descending swell. 

He gave it thought, he gathered hope, 
And, like a brave man there. 

Felt it no shame to bow his heart 
In thankfulness and‘prayer. 

To work he went, and this he graved 
Upon the first-laid stone: 

“ Man may build up; the strength to stand 
Must come from God alone.” 

Slow rose the work, but safely slow, 

Firm as the rooted oak; 

Day after day, storm after storm 
Above that lighthouse broke ; 

At last came one, and seamen said 
While yet they saw it loom, 

“ If it stands this, why, it will stand 
Until the day of doom.” 

The storm passed on; long years are gone; 
The engineer sleeps well; 


62 


dick’s little 


And still around that lighthouse tower 
The eddying billows swell; 

And many a tar from many a land, 
Through many a stormy night, 

Still breathes a prayer for him that reared 
That Heaven-protected light. 


NEW-YEAR'S VOWS. 

“ Now what is that noise? ” said the glad New Year. 
“ Now what is that singular sound I hear? 

As if all the paper in all the world 

Were rattled and shaken and twisted and twirled.” 

“ Oh! that,” said the jolly old earth, “is the noise 
Of all my children, both girls and boys, 

A-turning over their leaves so new, 

And all to do honor, New Year, to you.” 


BE TRUE. 

Thou must be true thyself 

If thou the truth wouldst teach; 
Thy soul must overflow if thou 
Another’s soul wouldst reach! 

It needs the overflow of heart 
To give the lips full speech. 




folks’ reciter. 


63 


Think truly, and thy thoughts 
Shall the world’s famine feed; 
Speak truly, and each word of thine 
Shall be a fruitful seed; 

Live truly, and thy life shall be 
A great and noble creed. 


LOOK OK THE STJNNY SIDE. 

Look always on the sunny side; 

’Twill make us happier far. 

Why should we try to find the cloud 
When brightly shines the star? 

Some people only see the world 
As through a smoky glass; 

They go half-way to meet the woe, 
And let the sunshine pass. 


THE LITTLE HOUSEKEEPER. 

I’m dreadful busy workin’, 

I have such lots to do; 

I’ve got to bake and iron, 

And never will get through. 
I’ve just hung out my washin’ 
And rinsed out all my tubs; 




6 4 


dick’s little 


It almost skins my fingers 
Givin’ such awful rubs. 

My cake is bakin’ nicely 
In Katy’s fryin’-pan. 

I tried to make some jumbles, 

But don’t believe I can. 

I’m gratin’ up some nutmeg 
(It’s really only bark); 

I ’most believe it’s poison, 

It looks so awful dark. 

Will you reach down my irons? 
My little clo’es-horse too? 

You needn’t make ’em red-hot— 
A little warm ’ll do. 

I burnt my dollies’ bedquilt 
Last time I ironed that, 

And scorched the velvet ribbon 
For Flotsie’s Sunday hat! 

Now I must bathe my children 
And dress ’em neat and clean; 

They mortify me awful— 

I’m ’shamed to have ’em seen. 

I’ve got to wash my chinies 
And put ’em ’way, I s’pose. 

How hard it is to housekeep 
None but us women knows! 


folks’ reciter. 


65 


A WITTY RETORT. 

A fiddler asked a lady once 
Why she her face did paint. 
All present looked around to see 
The lady fall and faint! 

But no; she, smiling, did reply, 

“ If you the truth must know, 
I paint, as you use rosin, sir, 

To help to draw my beau!” 


EPILOGUE. 

FOR A BOY AND A GIRL. 

GIRL. 

Our grandmothers tell us that when they were little 
girls they were told that they should be seen and not 
heard. Now I think we girls have proved to you 
that we are capable of being heard as well as seen. 

BOY. 

Say, where do we boys come in? 

girl {to boy). 

Oh, you boys! you have cheek enough to talk for 
yourselves. Your turn next. [To audience.') When 
I was interrupted just now I wanted to tell you how 



66 


dick’s little 


glad we feel for your encouragement and applause 
and your kindness in making all due allowance for 
our shortcomings. {To Boy.) Now, boy, if you 
haven’t forgotten what you had to say, say it. 

BOY. 

Oh yes, girls always think they must be first in 
everything. They are always first to talk , but who 
ever heard of a girl who was first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of her countrymen? 

GIRL. 

Nonsense! you know better than to want us to 
fight—and we are first, and last too, in the hearts of 
our countrymen. 

BOY. 

Well, I suppose you are; some of you, anyhow, 
are nice enough. (Girl courtesies.) So, hand in hand 
[they join hands), we will waive our little differences 
and unite in wishing all here most heartily good¬ 
night. {Both retire. Half-way , Girl hurries front.) 

GIRL. 

I will have the last word. Friends all, good¬ 
night ! 


GRANDPA’S SPECTACLES, 

O mother, what will grandpa do? 
He’s gone away to heaven 



folks’ reciter. 


67 


Without the silver spectacles 
That Uncle John had given. 

How can he read the papers there 
Or find his hickory staff? 

He’ll put his coat on wrong side out 
And make the people laugh. 

And when he takes the Bible down 
And wipes the dusty lid 
He’ll never find his spectacles 
Within its cover hid. 

There won’t be any little girl 
He likes as well as me 
To run and hunt them up for him 
And put them on his knee. 

Oh dear! he’ll never find the place 
About “ the wicked flee,” 

And how the bears ate children up 
(That used to frighten me). 

So, mother, if you’ll dress me up 
Just like an angel bright, 

I’ll fix our ladder ’gainst the sky 
And take them up to-night. 


THE ROSE AND THE SXJHFLOWER. 

A rose and sunflower in the garden grew. 

‘'Oh,” sighed the rose, and wept a tear of dew, 



68 


dick’s little 


" How nice it is to be so grand and tall 
That you can look beyond the garden wall.’ , 

The listening sunflower lower bent his head, 
And, smiling at the pretty rose, he said, 

“ Believe me, I have looked, and tell you true 
That naught beyond is half so fair as you.” 


PEACE. 

Peace to the brave who nobly fell 

’Neath our flag, their hope and pride! 
They fought like heroes long and well 
And then like heroes died. 

Nobly they died in Freedom’s name, 
Died our country’s flag to save; 
Forever sacred be their fame, 

And green each honored grave. 


ENOUGH. 

I shot a rocket in the air; 

It fell to earth, I knew not where 
Until, next day, with rage profound 
The man it fell on came around. 




folks’ reciter. 


69 


In less time than it takes to tell 
He showed me where that rocket fell; 
And now I do not greatly care 
To shoot more rockets in the air. 


A LITTLE SCHOQLMA’AM. 

( With three dolls arranged in a row on chairs.) 

Melinda Jane, and Kate, and Nell, 

It’s time you learned to read and spell. 
Come now and say your a-b-c; 

Hold up your heads and look at me; 

For if you never learn to read 
What stupid dolls you’ll be indeed! 

All ready, now; A, B, and C— 

What is the matter? Oh, dear me! 

I cannot hear one word you say! 

Why, Katy dear, don’t turn away; 

Sit up again and listen—there! 

She’s fast asleep, I do declare. 

Well, never mind; where’s grandpa’s cane? 
Now look at me, Melinda Jane. 

You needn’t think that this is play, 

For I shall keep you here all day 
And make you read before you go ; 

I know what’s good for dollies—so! 



7 ° 


dick’s little 


Now say A, B—look this way, Nell; 
You speak so low I can’t just tell. 
Melinda Jane, why don’t you try? 

Oh dear! I’m tired enough to cry! 

I think I’ll stop and go to play, 

And try again some other day. 


PERSEVERE. 

Drive the nail aright, boys; 

Hit it on the head; 

Strike with all your might, boys, 
While the iron’s red. 

When you’ve work to do, boys, 
Do it with a will; 

They who reach the top, boys, 
First must climb the hill. 

Standing at the foot, boys, 
Gazing at the sky, 

How can you get up, boys, 

If you never try? 

Though you stumble oft, boys, 
Never be downcast. 

Try and try again, boys; 

You’ll succeed at last. 



folks’ reciter. 


7 1 


ADAM NEVER WAS A BOY. 

Of all the men the world has seen 
Since Time his rounds began, 

There’s one I pity every day— 

Earth’s first and foremost man; 

And then I think what fun he missed 
By failing to enjoy 
The wild delights of youth-time, for 
He never was a boy. 

He never stubbed his naked toe 
Against a root or stone; 

He never with a pin-hook fished 
Along the brook alone; 

He never sought the bumblebee 
Among the daisies coy, 

Nor felt its business end, because 
He never was a boy. 

He never hooky played, nor tied 
The ever-ready pail, 

Down in the alley all alone, 

To trusting Fido’s tail. 

And when he home from swimming came, 
His happiness to cloy 
No slipper interfered, because 
He never was a boy. 


72 


DICK S LITTLE 


He might refer to splendid times 
’Mong Eden’s bowers; yet . 

He never acted Romeo 
To a six-year Juliet. 

He never sent a valentine 
Intended to annoy 
A good but maiden aunt, because 
He never was a boy. 

He never cut a kite-string, no! 

Nor hid an Easter egg; 

He never ruined his pantaloons 
A-playing mumble-peg ; 

He never from the attic stole, 

A coon-hunt to enjoy, 

To find “ the old man ” watching, for 
He never was a boy. 

I pity him. Why should I not? 

I even drop a tear. 

He did not know how much he missed; 

He never will, I fear. 

And when the scenes of “ other days ” 
My growing mind employ, 

I think of Adam, earth’s one man 
Who never was a boy. 



FOLKS’" RECITER. 


73 


WHAT IS GOOD? 

“ What is the real good? ” 

I asked in musing mood. 

“ Order,” said the law court; 

“ Knowledge,” said the school; 
“ Truth,” said the wise man; 

“ Pleasure,” said the fool; 

“ Love,” said the maiden; 

“ Beauty,” said the page ; 

“ Freedom,” said the dreamer; 

“ Home,” said the sage; 
“Fame,” said the soldier; 

“ Equity,” the seer. 

Spake my heart full sadly, 

“ The answer is not here.” 
Then within my hosom 
Softly this I heard: 

“ Each heart holds the secret; 
Kind?iess is the word.” 


CROCUS. 

Warm Sunshine came down 
On a sweet April day 
To work in the garden 
And have a nice play 



74 


dick’s little 


With the plants that all winter 
Had slept there. 

He came to a little 

Brown bulb at one side, 

And said to himself, 

“ Under this will I hide, 

For I see a black cloud 
In the sky.” 

So he tucked himself down 
In the soft, yielding earth, 

While the little brown bulb 
Was just shaking with mirth; 

“ For the sunshine,” said she, 

“ Makes me grow.” 

Then down came the rain; 

And the bulb, that no more 
A little brown ball was to be, 

Just opened her eyes, 

And what do you think? 

Why, a bright yellow crocus was she 


GOD SEES ME. 

I’m not too young for God to see; 

He knows my name and nature, too; 



folks’ reciter. 


75 


And all day long He looks at me 

And sees my actions through and through. 

He listens to the words I say; 

He knows the thoughts I have within; 
And, whether I’m at work or play, 

He’s sure to see me if I sin. 

Then when I wish to do amiss, 

However pleasant it may be, 

I’ll always try to think of this— 

I’m not too young for God to see. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

A RECITATION FOR FIVE SMALL BOYS. 

{Let each boy hold in his right hand a card with date , 
lifting it high during his recitation .) 

FIRST BOY. 

Yes, seventeen hundred thirty-two— 

That is the date which I hold here, 

And Washington, the great, was born 
In February of that year. 



7 6 


dick’s little 


SECOND BOY. 

He swept the land of lord and king; 

Before his sword the foeman fled; 
’Twas seventeen hundred seventy-five 
When he stepped to our army’s head. 

THIRD BOY. 

In seventeen hundred eighty-three 
He saw the strife, the battles done, 

A nation born, a land made free, 

A country from the tyrant won. 

FOURTH BOY. 

“ Be President! ” the people cried ; 

So, first in presidential line, 

He served our land with love and zeal 
In seventeen hundred eighty-nine. 

FIFTH BOY. 

In seventeen hundred ninety-nine 
Low lay his well-loved head, 

While mournful bells and flags half-mast 
Told Washington was dead. 

ALL. 

Oh, “ first in war and first in peace,” 
Our Washington, the true, the brave, 
We’ll ever keep thy memory green 
And ever guard thy honored grave. 


folks’ reciter. 


77 


BY AND BY. 

CONCERTED PIECE FOR NINE BOYS ; TO BE GIVEN WITH 
APPROPRIATE ACTION. 

FIRST BOY. 

I’ve just been thinking, boys, of late, 

If we could choose our future state, 

That by and by, when I grow old, 

I’d like to be a miller bold! 

Beside the stream my mill would stand, 

With trees and flowers on either hand, 

And there so gaily, eve and morn, 

I’d work away and grind the corn. 

SECOND BOY. 

Well done, old fellow! grind away; 

But / would rather any day 
A stoker be, and guard the fire 
That doth the giant steam inspire. 

With sinews strong and willing hand, 

Beside the coal I’ll take my stand 
And shovel, shovel, hour by hour, 

To feed the engine’s wondrous power. 

THIRD BOY. 

Now, boys, I think that by and by, 

When I grow taller, / will try 


78. 


dick’s little 


To drive a cab in some great town 
And bowl the parks and highways down! 
A hansom-cab my choice shall be, 

As smart as ever you could see; 

But if my fare should offer beer , 

D’ye think I’ll take it? Never fear/ 

FOURTH BOY. 

Come, drive on, cabby! for I feel 
My choice is best—to turn the wheel, 
The potter’s busy wheel, where I 
Shall prove so skilful by and by. 

A potter, ever turning, turning, 

Molding clay for heat of burning, 

Shaping jugs and jars that never 
Carry any wine whatever! 

FIFTH BOY. 

Success, O potter, to your fate! 

But I prefer another state— 

A butler trim, with portly air 
And nice black coat and silvery hair! 
Quite like a picture I shall seem 
When serving out the drops that gleam— 
Bright water sparkling evermore; 

Strong drink my hand shall never pour! 

SIXTH BOY. 

The open air of heav’n for me, 

That blows so freshly o’er the lea! 


FOLKS RECITER. 


79 


I’ll guide the plow across the sod 
And turn each brown and fragrant clod. 
A plowman, sunburnt, steady, strong, 
You’ll find me when time rolls along; 

I’ll early rise and labor late, 

And drive the furrows true and straight! 

SEYENTH BOY. 

Now, speaking for myself j you know, 
When my mustache begins to grow 
A banker's life / choose to share; 

True men are wanted everywhere! 

In commerce, then, my place I’ll fill, 
Receive your check, your note, your bill, 
And shovel up the gold around, 

And count the coins with chinking sound! 

EIGHTH BOY. 

A paper-hanger let me be; 

I am not proud, as you may see. 

Though humble is my chosen fate, 

Hard work shall make it good and great. 
Come, see this pattern-book of mine! 

I’ve hangings here of cheap design. 

My brush will make your walls so bright 
And wash your ceilings clean and white. 

NINTH BOY. 

My heart doth choose a nobler sphere! 
Td like to be a volunteer, 


8o 


dick’s little 


And march along with head held high 
And ready rifle by and by. 

The band will play, the drums will beat, 
And when you hear the tramping feet 
Look out for me! for there I’ll be, 

And forward march with dignity. 

all {steppingforward). 

Yes, whate’er the future lend us, 

God will help and blessing send us ; 

Still throughout life’s changeful weather 
We’ll be temperance men together. 


THE LITTLE LAMBKINS. 

These are little lambkins, 
Always full of fun; 

In the grassy meadows 
To and fro they run. 

They have little woolly coats, 
Curly, soft, and white, 
Which keep the tiny lambkins 
Cozy warm at night. 

And thro’ the snowy winter 
They simply grow and grow 



folks’ reciter. 


8i 


Till summer comes with bees and birds 
And softest winds do blow. 

Then the happy farmer 
With his shears so bright 

Cuts from these lambkins 

Their coats so warm and white. 

And the little lambkins 
Do frisk about and play, 

Because they’re pleased, you see, 

To give their wool away. 

This wool from off the lambkins 
Has still a work to do ; 

For when ’tis woven into cloth 
And passed the great mill thro’, 

Mother makes it into clothes 
Which all the winter long 

Keep the children warm and dry 
And help to make them strong. 


HIS NEIGHBOR’S WIFE. 

One year ago, in lonely state, 

I’d sit and gaze across the way 
Into a home where, early, late, 

At all hours things were bright and gay. 



83 


dick’s little 


A couple, young and free from care; 

Alas! how dreary seemed my life, 

For she was blithe and witching fair, 

The girl I called my neighbor’s wife. 

One year ago—how could they guess 
That glimpses of their paradise 
And tokens of their happiness 

Were oft observed by envious eyes! 

I learned to hate the other man; 

I swore that he had wrecked my life; 
For could I but have changed the plan, 
She’d not have been my neighbor’s wife. 

One year ago. And now there sits 
Beside me, witching fair and gay, 

The girl I loved; and now there flits 
Another girl across the way. 

Yet I’m not false, nor fickle he, 

And he and I are friends for life. 

She was his sister, don’t you see? 

And now she is his neighbor’s wife. 


ONE BY ONE. 

One by one the sands are flowing, 
One by one the moments fall; 
Some are coming, some are going, 
Do not strive to grasp them all. 



FOLKS RECITER. 


83 


One by one thy duties wait thee; 

Let thy whole strength go to each. 
Let no future dreams elate thee; 

Learn thou first what these can teach. 

One by one (bright gifts from Heaven) 
Joys are sent thee here below; 

Take them readily when given, 

Ready, too, to let them go. 

One by one thy griefs shall meet thee. 

Do not fear an armed band; 

One will fade as others greet thee, 
Shadows passing through the land. 

Do not look at life’s long sorrow; 

See how small each moment’s pain; 
God will help thee for to-morrow, 

So each day begin again. 

Every hour that fleets so slowly 
Has its task to do or bear; 

Luminous the crown, and holy, 

If thou set each gem with care. 

Do not linger with regretting, 

Or for passing hours despond, 

Nor, the daily toil forgetting, 

Look too eagerly beyond. 

Hours are golden links, God’s token 
Reaching heaven; but one by one 


8 4 


dick’s little 


Take them, lest the chain be broken 
Ere thy pilgrimage be done. 


BREAD CRUSTS. 

Did you have to eat the bread crust 
When you were a little girl? 

Did your grandma ever tell you 
It would make your hair all curl? 

If it’s so, I’d like to know it, 

If indeed it’s really true. 

Please to tell me if you ate them— 

I’ll be much obliged to you. 

Would you have to eat a thousand 
So they’d make your cheeks look red? 

Does it tickle when it crinkles 

And the curls come on your head? 

For my grandma looks so funny 
As she hands her crusts to me, 

And she says she knows I’ll eat them— 
“Just the thing to have for tea.” 


AT THE WINDOW. 

In and out, in and out, 

Through the clouds heaped about, 
In and out, in and out, 

Wanders the bright moon. 




folks’ reciter. 


85 


What she seeks I do not know; 
Where it is I cannot show. 

I am but a little child, 

And the night is strange and wild. 

In and out, in and out, 

Wanders the bright moon. 

In and out, in and out, 

She will find it soon. 

There she comes! as clear as day— 
Now the clouds are going away. 
She is smiling, I can see, 

And she’s looking straight at me. 

Pretty moon, so bright and round, 
Won’t you tell me what you found? 


SUNBEAM FAIRIES. 

“ My sunbeam children must work and play,” 
Said the great round golden sun; 

€t So I’ll send them down to the earth to-day 
To serve till day is done.” 

So down to the earth the sunbeams came, 

All brightly and gaily dressed— 

Some red, some blue, some yellow, some green, 
Each in his Sunday best. 

They came so softly no one could hear, 

Tljen through the windows creep; 



86 


DICK S LITTLE 


They made light the rooms and kissed the 
heads 

Of little children asleep. 

They found house plants on the window-stands ; 

“ We’ll serve you too,” said they; 

Then, out on the line, from mother’s clothes 
They carried the water away. 

But when night came and the bright sun called 
To stop the work and play, 

They hastened back and softly said, 

“ We’ve had a happy day.” 


GETTYSBURG. 

The fields of Gettysburg are green 
Where once the red blood ran; 

The oak-leaves throw a dancing sheen 
Where perished horse and man; 

The saplings whisper on the hill 
Where rolled a fiery tide, 

And song-birds splash the laughing rill 
Where armies fought and died. 

A marble sentry scans the field 
And granite cannons frown 

Where dusty regiments once wheeled 
And shot and shell rained down; 



folks’ reciter. 


§7 


But o’er the sentry’s martial face 
Now sits the cooing dove, 

Breaking the silence of the place 
With murmuring notes of love. 

The only colors in the glades 
Are those of buds and flowers; 

The swift and sudden fusillades 
Are made by passing showers. 

Huge hay-carts now are chariot cars, 
And soldiers, boys at play; 

The only camp-fires are the stars, 

The fiery glory, day. 

Thank God that all things in this life 
Together move for right; 

That Night and her half-sister, Strife, 
Shall die in joy and light; 

That through a mystery above 
His mercies ne’er shall cease; 

That out of hate shall issue love 
And out of war come peace. 


A LITTLE GIRL’S WONDER. 

What do the birds say, I wonder, I wonder, 

With their chitter and chatter? It isn’t all play. 
Do they scold, do they fret at some boggle or blunder, 
As we fret, as we scold, day after day£ 



88 


dick’s little 


Do their hearts ever ache, I wonder, I wonder, 

At anything else than the danger that comes 
When some enemy threatens them over or under 
The great, leafy boughs of their great, leafy 
homes? 

Do they vow to be friends, I wonder, I wonder, 
With promises fair and promises sweet, 

Then, quick as a wink, at a word fall asunder, 

As human friends do, in a moment of heat? 

But day after day I may wonder and wonder 
And ask them no end of such questions as these. 
With chitter and chatter, now over, now under 
The big, leafy boughs of the big, leafy trees, 

They dart and they skim, with their bills full of 
plunder, 

But never a word of an answer they give, 

And never a word shall I get, though I wonder 
From morning till night as long as I live. 


DON’T. 

I might have just the mostest fun 
If ’twasn’t for a word— 

I think the very worstest one 
'At ever I have heard. 



folks’ reciter. 


89 


I wish ’at it’d go away, 

But I’m afraid it won’t; 

I s’pose ’at it’ll always stay— 

That awful word of “ don’t.” 

It’s, “ Don’t you make a bit of noise;” 

And, “ Don’t go out of door;” 

And, “ Don’t you spread your stock of toys 
About the parlor floor;” 

And, “ Don’t you dare play in the dust;” 

And, “ Don’t you tease the cat;” 

And, “ Don’t you get your clothing mussed;” 
And “ don’t ” do this and that. 

It seems to me I’ve never found 
A thing I’d like to do 
But what there’s some one close around 
’At’s got a “ don’t ” or two. 

And Sunday—’at’s the day ’at “ don’t” 

Is worst of all the seven. 

Oh, goodness! but I hope there won’t 
Be any “don’ts” in heaven! 


HELEN’S BABIES. 

Oh, I’ve such a lot of dollies, 

It would really make you stare! 
Just twelve—would you believe it? 
Twelve children in my care! 



9° 


LITTLE FOLKS* RECITER. 


Every one says, “ Such a family! ” 

But they’re a great comfort to me. 

Mama calls ’em Helen’s Babies, 

And that’s what they are, you see. 

There’s Bessie, my biggest dolly; 
She’s as old as she can be, 

For she was my mama’s dolly 
Before she belonged to me. 

There’s Clara and Alice and Jennie, 
And Gracie with golden hair 

And eyes that shut and open; 

She’s ’most alive, I declare. 

Now Dot is a dear little dolly 
In the sweetest blue satin dress; 

And Nellie and Celia and Hattie— 
You’ll think there’s a lot, I guess. 

There’s Robbie, my little sailor, 

And Topsy, as cute as can be, 

And Ko Chung-kee, the Chinaman— 
They’re all so dear to me. 

I’m sure so big a family 
You won’t very often see, 

But this is a “ truly story ” 

About my dollies and me. 


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1 


FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN. 


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within their capabilities ; including also Dialogues for Patriotic occasions, 
for opening and closing Anniversary Exhibitions, and others requiring a 
number of speakers for their performance. Some of the Dialogues are on 
serioua and instructive subjects, but the majority are full of sparkling 
wit an d effective humor. Paper covers.. 15 cts. 

Kavanaugh’s Exhibition Reciter for Very Little Children. 

Containing entirely Original Recitations, Dialogues, and short Speeches, 
adapted to the capabilities of very little boys and girls, including a variety 
of humorous, serious, and dramatic pieces for Children from three to ten 
years of age,’ and suitable for School Entertainments. By Mrs. Russell 
Kavanaugh. It contains a complete May Day Festival, with Speeches for 
twelve little children ; also some beautiful speaking Tableaux, easy musi¬ 
cal pieces. Salutatory and Valedictory Speeches, and over sixty amusing 
Dialogues and effective Recitations. Paper covers.30 cts. 

Holmes’ Very Little Dialogues for Very Little Folks. 

Containing forty-seven new and original Dialogues, with short and easy 
parts, mainly in words of one syllable and entirely suited to the capacity 
and comprehension of very young children. By Alice Holmes. The short 
conversations combine good moral tone with a great deal of humor, and 
are suitable for any entertainment in which very small children take 
part. It contains a very amusing piece for Santa Claus and a large num¬ 
ber of little tots. Paper covers.30 cts. 

Kavanaugh’s Comic Dialogues and Pieces for Little Chil¬ 
dren. Comprising short and easy original pieces for Sunday School and 
other exhibitions. By Mrs. Russell Kavanaugh. This book includes 
several amusing Christmas Pieces, introducing a novel Christmas Tree 
in which twenty-one little girls take part; a complete set of speeches for 
representing the different festivals during the year; a Floral Festival for 
twelve performers; and a great number of Dialogues and Recitations 
entirely suitable for young and very small boys and girls. Every thing is 
written in the simplest style, easily learned and comprehended by young 
children, Paper covers,..... ,,.,,,,,.,..,,.30 cts, 










MODEL SPEECHES AND SKELETON ESSAYS, 


Burlesque Speeches. 

Addresses to Teachers. 

Prologues and Epilogues for School 
Exhibitions.< 

Anniversary Congratulations. 


Ogden’s Model Speeches for all School Occasions. Con- 

taining Original Addresses and Orations on everything appertaining to 
School Life; comprising Set Speeches on all occasions connected with 
Schools, Academies and Colleges, for School Officers, as well as for 
Teachers and Students of both sexes, with appropriate replies. By 
Christol Ogden. 

This original work contains over one-hundred telling speeches and 
replies in well-chosen words, and every variety of style, for 
All Kinds of School Ceremonials. 

Speeches on Opening and Dedicating 
New Schools and Academies. 

Salutatory and Valedictory Addresses. 

Presentations and Conferring Honors. 

Including practical hints on Extempore speaking with a dissertation on 
the selection of appropriate topics, suitable style, and effective delivery, 
and also valuable advice to those who lack confidence when addressing 

the Public. Paper...50 cts. 

Bound in boards.75 cts. 

Ogden’s Skeleton Essays; or Authorship in Outline. Con- 

sisting of Condensed ^Treatises on popular subjects, with references to 
sources of information, and directions how to enlarge them into Essays, 
or expand them into Lectures. Fully elucidated by example as well as 
precept. By Christol Ogden. 

In this work is a thorough analysis of some SEVENTY prominent and 
popular subjects, with extended specimens of the method of enlarging 
them into Essays and Lectures. 

The following interesting topics are separately and ably argued on both 
sides of the question, thus presenting also well digested matter for 
Debate, being on subjects of absorbing interest everywhere 


Bi-Metalism, 

Civil Service Reform. 
Prohibition. 

Is Marriage a Failure ? 
City and Country, 


f 


The Credit System. 

Free Trade and Protection. 

Capital Punishment. 

Shall More or Less be Taught in 
Public Schools. 


All the remaining subjects are equally thoroughly discussed, and form a 
valuable aid to the student in preparing compositions, essays, etc. 

Paper.50 cts. 

Bound in boards.75 cts. 

Dick’s Book of Toasts, Speeches and Responses. Con¬ 
taining Toasts and Sentiments for Public and Social Occasions, and speci¬ 
men Speeches with appropriate replies suitable for the following occasions: 


Public Dinners. 

Social Dinners. 

Convivial Gatherings. 

Art and Professional Banquets. 

Agricultural and Commercial Festivals. 
Special Toasts for Ladies. 

Christmas, Thanksgiving and other 
Festivals. 


Friendly Meetings. 

Weddings and their Anniversaries. 
Army and Navy Banquets. 
Patriotic and Political Occasions. 
Trades’ Unions and Dinners. 
Benedicts’ and Bachelors’ Banquets. 
Masonic Celebrations. 

All Kinds of Occasions. 


This work includes an instructive dissertation on the Art of making amusing 
After-dinner Speeches, giving hints and directions by the aid of which 
persons with only ordinary intelligence can make an entertaining and 
telling speech. Also, Correct Rules and Advice for Presiding at Table. 

The use of this work will render a poor and diffident speaker fluent and 
Witty—and a good speaker better and wittier, besides affording an im¬ 
mense fund of anecdotes, wit and wisdom, and other serviceable matter 

to draw upon at will. Paper.....30 cts. 

Booad boards. . ...... 50cts. 












Frost’s Dialogues for Young Folks. A Collection of Origi 

nal, Moral and Humorous Dialogues. Adapted to the use of School and 
Church Exhibitions, Family Gatherings and Juvenile Celebrations on all 
Occasions. By S. A. Frost. 


Contents. 

Novel Reading. 

The Bound Girl. 

Writing a Letter. 

The Wonderful Scholar. 

Slang. 

The Language of Flowers .... 

The Morning Call. 

The Spoiled Child. 

The Little Travelers. 

Little Things. 

Generosity. 

Country Cousins. 

Winning the Prize -. 

The Unfortunate Scholar. 

The Day of Misfortunes. 

Jealousy. 

The May Queen. 

Temptation Resisted. 

16mo, Paper Covers. Price... 
Bound in Boards. 



1 

1 


4 


2 

1 

2 

4 

4 


4 


4 

2 

2 

1 

1 


2 


4 


2 


4 

3 


1 

3 


5 

3 



Contents. I 

n 

A Place for Everything. 2 

I Want to be a Soldier... 2 

Self-Denial. 2 

The Traveler. 3 

Idleness the Mother of Evil 

The French Lesson. 5 

Civility Never Lost. 3 

Who Works the Hardest ?.... 1 

The Everlasting Talker. 

The Epicure. 

True Charity . 

Starting in Life. 

1 Didn’t Mean Anything. 

Ambition.. 

Choosing a Trade. 

The Schoolmaster Abroad.... 

White Lies. 

The Hoyden.... 


3 
1 
1 

4 

5 
9 
7 
3 
1 

30 cts. 
50 ct& 


Frost’s New Book of Dialogues. A series of entirely new and 

original humorous Dialogues, specially adapted for performance at School 
Anniversaries and Exhibitions, or other Festivals and Celebrations of the 
Young Folks. 


Contents. 


fi Contents. £ fj 

n o « 5 


Slang versus Dictionary...... 

Country or City. 

Turning the Tables. 

The Force of Imagination.... 
The Modem Robinson Crusoe. 

The Threatened Yisit. 

The Dandy and the Boor. 

Nature versus Education. 

The British Lion and Ameri¬ 
can Hoosier. 

Curing a Pedant. 

Pursuit of Knowledge under 

Difficulties... 

The Daily Governess. 

The Army and Navy. 

Economy is Wealth. 


3 

3 

The Intelligence Office. 

Cats... 

4 

6 

3 


Too Fine and Too Plain. 



4 

The Fourth of July Oration... 

5 

5 


The Sewing Circle. 



3 

Fix... 

2 

3 


The Yankee Aunt. 

2 


4 

The Walking Encyclopedia.... 

5 



The Novel Readers. 


3 


The Model Farmer. 

2 


5 

Buying a Sewing-Machine.... 

4 



Sam Weller's Yalentine. 

2 

2 


The Hungry Traveler. 

2 


2 

Deaf as a Post. 

1 

2 

2 

3 

The Rehearsal. 

6 


3 

3 

7 


S 

2 

2 


These Dialogues are admirably adapted for home performance, as they m 
gniro no set scenery for their representation. By S. A. Frost. 180 pages, IGmo. 


Paper covers. Price. 

Bound in boards, cloth back 




.30 cts. 

.<>50 cts. 


!«•••• 












































































McBride’s New Dialogues. Specially designed for School 

and Literary Entertainments. Entirely new and introducing eccentric 
and dialect characters. By H. Elliott McBride. 


Contents. 


OQ QQ 



w o 


Contents. 


A Happy Woman. 

The Somnambulist. 

Those Thompsons. 

Playing School.. 

Tom and Sally.. 

Assisting Hezekiah. 

A Visit to the Oil Regions... 
Breaking up the Exhibition. 

Turning Around. 

A Little Boys’ Debate. 

The Silver Lining. 

Restraining Jotham. 

An Uncomfortable Predic 
ment. 


3 

1 

5 

1 

1 

1 

8 


2 

2 

2 

1 

4 

2 

6 


4 


4 


1 

2 

5 

4 

2 

3 


A Shoemaker’s Troubles...... 

The Opening Speech. 

The Cucumber-Hill Debating 

Club. 

Married by the New Justice .. 

Bread on the Waters. 

An Unsuccessful Advance .... 
When Women Have Their 

Rights. 

Only Another Footprint. 

Rosabella’s Lover... 

A Smart Boy. 

A Heavy Shower. 

Master of the Situation. 


4 

6 

6 

3 

1 

1 

2 

6 

4 
2 
2 
2 


s 

X 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 


Hluminated paper covers. Price. 30 cts. 

Bound in boards. 50 cts. 


McBride’s Temperance Dialogues, intended for the use of 

Schools, Temperance Societies and Home Performance, introducing vari¬ 
ous dialect characters. By H. Elliott McBride. 


Contents. 


M O 


Acting Drunk. 

Banishing the Bitters. 

The Poisoned Darkies. 

A Meeting of Liquor Dealers. 

Out of the Depths . 

The March of Intemperance. 

Maud’s Command. 

A Beer-Drinker’s Courtship . 
Illuminated paper covers. Price 
Bound in boards. 


4 


3 

1 

3 


5 


5 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

3 

1 


Contents. £ 

m 

Ralph Coleman’s Reformation 4 

Barney’s Resolution. 1 

Commencing to Work. 3 

A Temperance Meeting. 7 

The Closing of “ The Eagle ” . 4 
Don’t Marry a Drunkard to Re¬ 
form Him. 8 

Obtaining a Promise. 1 


30 cts. 
50 cts 


McBride’s Humorous Dialogues. Designed for School Ex¬ 

hibitions and Juvenile Entertainments. By H. Elliott McBride, Entirely 


original and full of humor and eccentricities. 


Contents. 

striking the Blow. 

Curing the Borrowers. 

Another Arrangement. 

Scene in the Bobtown School. 

Mrs. Bolivar’s Quilting. 

A Rumpus...... 

Scene in a Railway Station. .. 
A Pantaloon Fight. 


C Contents. 

m3 « 


1 

4 

A Boys’ Meeting.. 

5 

3 

3 

A Happy Family.. 

3 

2 

2 

A Farmers’ Meeting .. 

6 

9 


Uncle Sam’s Wars. 

7 


6 

Riches Have Wings. 

3 


4 

The Reclaimed Father. 

5 

4 

2 

Leaving Jonah. . .. 

3 

1 

2 




2 

1 

3 

1 

1 


Hluminated paper covers. Price..... 30 CtS., 

Bound in Boards.... ......50 Cts. 










































































Kavanaugh’s Juvenile Speaker. For very little boys and 

f irls. Containing short and easily-learned Speeches and 
>ialogues, expressly adapted for School Celebrations, May- 
Day Festivals and other Children’s Entertainments. By Mra 
Russell Kavanaugh. This hook is just the thing for Teachers, 
as it gives a great number of short pieces for children front 
five to ten years of age, with directions for appropriate dresses. 

It contains nearly fifty Speeches and Recitations ; besides 
the following attractive Dialogues : 


Opening Song. 

Opening Recitation. 

An Interrupted Recitation. 

A Joyful Surprise. 

How He Had Him. 

Poetry, Prose, and Fact. 

Small Pitchers have Large Ears 
The Young Critic. 


m 

03 

73 


£ 

n 

3 


m 


13 

The Love-Scrape. 

2 

l 

12 

An Old Ballad.. . 

1 

l 

1 

The Milkmaid. . 

1 

3 

2 

Billy Grimes, the Drover__ 


2 

1 

Honesty the Best Policy. 

4 

1 

2 

Baby Bye. 



2 

Helping Papa and Mamma.... 

2 

2 


The Little Mushrooms. 



T5 

3 
1 
1 
1 
2 

4 

2 

3 


It includes a complete May-Day Festival, with opening 
chorus and appropriate speeches for nineteen boys and girls. 

It introduces the May-Pole Dance, plainly described, and 
forming a very attractive and pleasing exhibition. 


16mo, Illuminated Paper Cover. Price. 30 cts. 

16mo, Boards. 60 cts. 


Kavanaugh’s Exhibition Reciter, for Very Little Children. 

A collection of entirely Original Recitations, Dialogues, and 
Short Speeches, adapted for very little boys and girls ; includ¬ 
ing also a variety of pieces, Humorous, Serious, and Dram¬ 
atic, suitable for children from three to ten years old, for 
Public and Private School Exhibitions and other Juvenile 
Entertainments. It contains over fifty Speeches and Recita¬ 
tions for single performers, and in concert; and the following 
Dialogues: 


The Gipsy’s Warning. 1 

The Power of Justice. 1 

The Months. 3 

The Four Queens. 2 

Repartee. 1 

The Midgets’ Greeting. . 1 

The Five Wishes. 

Poor Old Maids_ ... _ 

The Old Year Out and file New 

Year In. 6 

Scene from “ Robin Hood.”... 6 


03 

s 

G 

2 

The Fairy’s Revenge. 

m 

O 

m 

3 

9 

An Old-Time Breakdown. 

5 

9 



4 

1 

MUSIC. 


1 

The Gipsy’s Warning. 


6 

Jewels Bright. 


6 

Baby Fair. 



Gentle Zitella. 


6 

Tell Me, Where do Fairies 
Dwell ? 



It also includes a May-Day Festival for very little children, 
and a number of beautiful Speaking Tableaux. By the 
author of “Kavanaugh’s Juvenile Speaker.” 


Bound in Illuminated Paper Covers. 30 Cts 

Bound in Illuminated Board Covers. 50 cts! 













































Dick’s Dutch, French and Yankee Dialect Recitations. 

An unsurpassed Collection of Droll Dutch Blunders,Frenchmen’s Funny Mistakes and 
Ludicrous and Extravagant Yankee Yarns, each Recitation being in its own dialect. 


DUTCH DIALECT. 

Dor Mule Sbtood on der 
Steamboad Deck. 

Co Vay, Becky Miller. 

Der Drummer. 

Mygel Snyder’s Barty. 
Snyder’s Nose. 

Dyin’ Yords of Isaac. 

Fritz und I. 

Betsey und I Hafe Bust Ub. 
Schneider sees Leah. 

Dot Funny Leetle Baby. 
Schnitzerl’s Philosopede. 
Der Dog und der Lobster. 
Schlosser’s Ride. 

Mine Katrine. 

Maud Muller. 

Ein Deutsches Lied. 

Hans and Fritz. 

Schneider’s Tomatoes. 
Deitsche Advertisement. 
Vas Bender Honshpecked. 
Life, Liberty and Lager. 
Der Goot Lookin’ Shnow. 
Mr. Schmidt’s Mistake. 
Home Again. 

Dot Surprise Party. 

Der Wreck of der Hezberus. 
Isaac Rosenthal on the 
Chinese Question. 

Hans Breitmann’s Party. 
Shoo Flies. 

A Dutchman’s Answer. 

How Jake Schneider Went 
Blind. 

I Yash so Glad I Yash Here. 
The Dutchman and the 
Yankee. 

How the Dutchman Killed 
the Woodchuck. 


Der Nighd Pehind Grisd- 
mas. 

The Dutchman’s Snake. 

Yoppy’s Yarder und Hees 
Drubbles. 

Dhree Shkaders. 

Katrina Likes Me Poody 
Yell. 

Hans in a Fix. 

Leedle Yawcob Strauss. 

How a Dutchman was Done. 

Dot Lambs vot Mary Haf 
Got. 

The Yankee and the Dutch¬ 
man’s Dog. 

Zwel Lager. 

Schneider’s Ride. 

The Dutchman and the 
Small-pox. 

Tiamondts on der Prain. 

A Dutchman’s Testimony 
in a Steamboat Case. 

Hans Breitmann and the 
Turners. 


FRENCH DIALECT. 

The Frenchman’s Dilemma; 
or, Number Five Collect 
Street. 

The Frenchman’s Revenge. 

Noozell and the Organ 
Grinder. 

How a Frenchman Enter¬ 
tained John Bull. 

Mr. Rogers and Monsieur 
Denise. 

The Frenchman and the 
Landlord. 

The Frenchman and the 
Sheep’s Trotters. 


A Frenchman’s Account of 
the Fall. 

I Yant to Fly. 

The Generous Frenchman. 

The Frenchman and the 
Flea Powder. 

The Frenchman and the 
Rats. 

Monsieur Tonson. 

Vat You Please. 

The Frenchman and the 
Mosquitoes. 

The Frenchman’s Patent 
Screw. 

The Frenchman’s Mistake* 

Monsieur Mocquard Be¬ 
tween Two Fires. 


YANKEE DIALECT* 

Mrs. Bean’s Courtship. 

Hez and the Landlord. 
Squire Billings’ Pickerel. 
Deacon Thrush in Meetings 
The Yankee Fireside. 

Peter Sorghum in Love. 
Mrs. Smart Learns how to 
Skate. 

Capt. Hurricane Jones onr 
the Miracles. 

The Dutchman and the 
Yankee. 

The Yankee Landlord. 

The Bewitched Clock. 

The Yankee and the Dutch¬ 
man’s Dog. 

Aunt Hetty on Matrimony. 
The Courtin’. 

Ebenezer on a Bust. 

Sut Lovingood’s Shirt. 


This Collection contains all the best dialect pieces that are incidentally scattered 
through a large number of volumes of 44 Recitations and Readings,” besides new and 


excellent sketches never before published, 170 pages, paper cover.. .30 cts. 

Bound in boards, cloth back.50 cts. 


Dick’s Irish Dialect Recitations. A carefully compiled Collec- 

tion of Rare Irish Stories, Comic, Poetical and Prose Recitations, Humorous Letters 
and Funny Recitals,all told with the irresistible Humor of the Irish dialect. Containing 


Biddy’s Troubles. 

Birth of St. Patrick, The. 

Bridget O’Hoolegoin’s Let¬ 
ter. 

Connor. 

Dermot O’Dowd. 

Dick Macnamara’s Matri¬ 
monial Adventures. 

Dying Confession of Paddy 
M’Cabe. 

Father Molloy. 

Father Phil Blake’s Collec¬ 
tion. 

Father Roach. 

Fight of Hell-Kettle, The. 

Handy Andy’s Little Mis¬ 
takes. 

How Dennis Took the 
Pledge. 

How Pat Saved his Bacon. 

Irish Astronomy. 


Irish Coquetry. 

Irish Drummer, The. 

Irish Letter, An. 

Irish Philosopher, The. 
Irish Traveler, The. 
Irishman’s Panorama, The. 
Jimmy McBride’s Letter. 
Jimmy Butler and the Owl. 
King O’Toole and St. Kevin. 
Kitty Malone. 

Love in the Kitchen. 

Micky Free and the Priest. 
Miss Malony on the Chinese 
Question. 

Mr. O’Hoolahan’s Mistake. 
Paddy Blake’s Echo. 

Paddy Fagan’s Pedigree. 
Paddy McGrath and the 
Bear. 

Paddy O’Rafther. 

Paddy the Piper. 


Paddy’s Dream. 

Pat and the Fox. 

Pat and the Gridiron* 

Pat and his Musket. 

Pat and the Oysters* 

Pat’s Criticism. 

Pat’s Letter. 

Pat O’Flanigan’s Colt. 
Patrick O’Rouke and the 
Frogs. 

Paudeen O’Rafferty’s Say 
Voyage. 

Peter Mulrooney and the 
Black Filly. 

Phaidrig Crohoore. 

Rory O’More’a Present to 
the Priest. 

St. Kevin. 

Teddy O’Toole’s Six Bulls. 
Wake of Tim O’Hara, The. 
Widow Cummiskey, The. 


This Collection contains, in addition to new and original pieces, ail the very best 
Recitations in the Irish dialect that can be gathered from a whole library of 4 ‘Recita¬ 
tion ” books. It is full of sparkling witticisms and it furnishes also a fund of entertain¬ 


ing matter for perusal in leisure moments. 170 pages, paper cover.80 ct*. 

Bouttiiia boards, cloth back..... . . cU. 












Tambo’s End-IEen’s Minstrel Gags. Containing some of the 

best Jokes and Repartees of the most celebrated ‘‘burnt• cork” performers of our 
dav Tambo and Bones in all sorts and manner of scrapes. This Book is 1 uli oi 
Burnt-Cork Drolleries, Funny Stories, Colored Conundrums, Gags and Witty Repar¬ 
tee all the newest side-splitting conversations between Tambo,* Bones, ana■ In¬ 
terlocutor, and will be found useful alike to the professional and amateur performer; 
Contents : 


A Bird that can’t be 
Plucked 

Annihilating Time 
At Last 
Bashful 
«et, The 
Big Fortune, A 
Blackberrying 
Black Swan, The 
Bones and his little Game K 
Bones and the Monkey 
Tricks 

Bones as a Fortune Teller 
Bones as a Legitimate Ac¬ 
tor 

Bones as a Pilot 
Bones as a Prize Fighter 
Bones as a “ Stugent ” 
Bones as a Traveler 
Bones as a Victim to the 
Pen 

Bones as a Walkist 
Bones assists at the Per¬ 
formance of a New Piece 
Bones attends a Seance 
Bones finds Himself Fa¬ 
mous 

Bones gets Dunned 
Bones gets Stuck 
Bones has a Small Game 
with the Parson 
Bones’ Horse Race 
Bones in an Affair of Honor 
Bones in Love 
Bones keeps a Boarding 
House 

Bones on the War Path 
Bones on George Washing¬ 
ton 

Bones on the Light Fantas¬ 
tic 


Bones Opens a Spout Shop 
Bones Plays O’Fella 
Bones sees a Ghost 
Bones Slopes with Sukey 
Sly 

Bones tells a “Fly” Story 
Brother will come home to¬ 
night 

Bones as a Carpet Bagger 
Bones as an Inkslinger 
Bones in a New Character 
Bones in Clover 
Bones’ Love Scrape 
“ Cullud ” Ball, The 
Conundrums 
Curious Boy 
Dancing Mad 

Dat’8 What J’d Like to 
Know 
Definitions 

De Mudder of Inwention 
Difference, The 
Don’t Kiss every Puppy 
“Far Away in Alabam’ ” 
First White Man, Tlio 
Fishy Argument 
Four-Eleven-Forty-Four 
Four Meetings, The 
From the Poiks 
Girl at the Sewing Ma¬ 
chine 

Hard Times 
Hard to take a Hint 
neavy Spell, A 
Highfalutin’ 

Horrible ? 

How Bones became a Min¬ 
strel 

How Tambo took his Bit¬ 
ters 

How to do it 


Impulsive Oration 

Inquisitive 

Jeallusest of her Sect 

Legal Problem, A 

Liberal Discount for Cash 

Manager in a Fiat, The 

Mathematics 

Merry Life, A 

Momentous Question 

Mosquitoes 

Music 

hotes 

Ob Course 

Our Shop Girls 

Pomp and Ephy Green 

Presidency on de Brain 

Proposed Increase of Taxes 

Railroad Catastrophe 

Reality versus Romance 

Rough on Tambo 

Sassy Sam and Susie Long 

School’s In 

Shakespeare with a Ven¬ 
geance 

Simple Sum in Arithmetic 
Sleighing in the Park 
Sliding Down the Hill 
Style 
Sublime 

Swearing by Proxy 

Tambo’s Traveling Agent 

That Dear Old Home 

“The Pervisions, Josiar ” 

Thieves 

Ton so rial 

Toast, A 

Uncle Eph’s Lament 
Waiting to See Him Off 
You Bet 

And 40 popular songs and 
dances. 


Everything new and rich. Paper covers.. - SOcts. 

Bound in boards, with cloth back.. 50cts. 


McBride’s Comic Speeches and Recitations. Designed for 

Schools, Literary and Social Circles. By H. Elliott McBride, Author of “McBride’s 
Humorous Dialogues,” etc., etc. This is one of the very best senes of original 
speeches, in Yankee, Darkey, Spread-Eagle and village styles, with a number ot 
diverting addresses and recitations, and funny stories, forming an excellent volume 
of selections for supplying the humorous element of an exhibition. Contents: 


A Burst of Indignation 
Disco’se by a Colored Man 
A Trumpet Sarmon 
Sarmon on Skilletvillers 
Nancy Matilda Jones 
Hezeklah’s Proposal 
About the Billikinses 
Letsy and I are Out Once 
More 

A Stump Speech 
About Katharine 
Deborah Doolittle’s Speech 
on Women’s Rights 
A Salutatory 
A Mournful Story 

Paper covers, illuminated 
Board covers, illuminated 


I An Address to Schoolboys 
Zachariah Popp’s Court¬ 
ship and Marriage 
A Sad Story 

How to Make Hasty Pud¬ 
ding 

My Matilda Jane 
Courtship, Marriage, Sep¬ 
aration and Reunion 
Lecture by a Yankee 
A Colored Man’s Disco’se 
on Different Subjects 
A Girl’s Address to Boys 
McSwinger’s Fate 


Peter Peabody’s Stump 
Speech 

Mr. Styx Rejoices on Ac¬ 
count of a New Well 
Spring 

Victuals and Drink 
Speech by Billy Higgins on 
the Destruction of His 
Rambo Apple Tree 
A Boy’s Address to Young 
Ladies 

An Old Man’s Address to 
Young Wives 
Salu-ta-tat-u-a-ry 
Valedictory. 

• • SOcts, 

• • • • SOeti. 















Beecher’s Recitations and Readings. 

Dramatic. Designed for Public and Private Exhibitions. 


Hiss Maloney at the Den¬ 
tist’s 

Lost and Found 
Mygel Snyder’s Barty 
Magdalena 

Jim W olfe and the Cats 
The Woolen Doll 
The Charity Dinner 
Go-Morrow ; or, Lots Wife 
The Wind and the Moon 
Dyin’ Words of Isaac 
Maude Muller in Dutch 
Moses the Sassy 
Yarn of the “Nancy Bell” 
Paddy the Piper 
Schneider sees “Leah ” 
Caldwoll of Springfield 
Artemus Ward’s Panorama 
Tale of a Servant Girl 
How a Frenchman Enter¬ 
tained John Bull 
Tiamondts on der Prain 
King Robert of Sicily 
Gloverson the Mormon 
De Pint wid Ole Pete 
Pat and the Pig 
The Widow Bedott’s Letter 

Paper covers. Price 
Bound in boards, cloth back 


The Cry of the Children 
The Dutchman and the 
Small-pox 
Sculpin 

Hats—Descriptive Recita¬ 
tion 

A Reader Introduces Him¬ 
self to an Audience 
A Dutchman's Dolly Var- 
den 

44 Rock of Ages ” 

Feeding the Black Fillies 
The Hornet 

The Glove and the Lions 

I Vant to Fly 

That Dog of Jim Smiley’s 

The Faithful Soul 

“ My New Pittayatees ” 

Mary Ann’s Wedding 

An Inquiring Yankee 

The Three Bells 

Love in a Balloon 

Mrs. Brown on the Streets 

Shoo Flies 

Discourse by the Rev. Mr. 
Bosan 

Without the Children 


Humorous, Serious, 

Contents : 

Signor Billsmethi’s Danc¬ 
ing Academy 
Der Goot Lookin Shnow 
The Jumping Frog 
The Lost Chord 
The Tale of a Leg 
That West-side Dog 
How Dennis Took the 
Pledge 

The Fisherman’s Summons 
Badger’s Debut as Hamlet 
Hezekiah Stole the Spoons 
Paddy’s Dream 
Victuals and Drink 
How Jake Schneider Went 
Blind 

Aurelia’s Young Man 
Mrs. Brown on Modern 
Houses 

Farm Yard Song 
Murphy’s Pork Barrel 
The Prayer Seeker 
An Extraordinary Phe¬ 
nomenon 

The Case of Young Bangs 
A Mule Ride in Florida 
Dhree Shkaders * 

3 Oct s* 
50cts. 


Dick’s Ethiopian Scenes, Variety Sketches and Stump 

Speeches, Containing the following Rich Collection of Negro Dialogues, Scenes, 
Farces, End-Men’s Jokes, Gags, Rollicking Stories, Excruciating Conundrums, Ques¬ 
tions and Answers for Bones, Tambo and Interlocutor, etc. Contents; 


I’s Gwine to Jine de Ma¬ 
sons 

Jes’ Nail dat Mink to de 
Stable Do’—Oration 
But the Villain still Pur¬ 
sued Her—A Thrilling 
Tale 

Bones at a Free-and-Easy 
Buncombe Speech 
Shakespeare Improved 
End Gag—Bones and Tam¬ 
bo 

A Man of Nerve—Comic 
Sketch 

End Gag—Bones and Tam¬ 
bo 

Undo Pete—Darkey Sketch 
The Rival Darkeys 
The Stage-Struck Darkey 
Add Ryman’s Fourth of 
July Oration 

Absent-Mindedness—Bones 
and Tambo 

Don’t Call a Man a Liar 
The Mysterious Darkey 
Rev. Uncle Jim’s Sermon 
The ’Possum-Run Debating 
Society 

Tim Murphy’s Irish Stew 
Brudder Bones in Love- 
Interlocutor and Bones 
’Lixey ; or, The Old Gum 
Game—Negro Scene 
Brudder Bones’ Duel 
Brudder Bones’ Sweetheart 
Brudder Bonos in Hard 
Luck 

Two Left-Bones and Tambo 


Speech on Boils 
How Bones Cured a Smoky 
Chimney 

Sermon on Keards, Hosses, 
Fiddlers, etc. 

Huggin’ Lamp-Posts 
Not Opposed to Matrimony 
How Pat Sold a Dutchman 
The Coopers—one Act Farce 
Questions Easily Answered 
—Bones and Tambo 
Examination in Natural 
History—Minstrel Dia¬ 
logue 

O’Quirk’s Sinecure 
The Widower’s Speech 
Bones at a Raffle 
Uncle Pete’s Sermon 
Bones at a Soiree—Interlo¬ 
cutor and Bones 
Speech on Woman’s Rights 
Bones’ Discovery 
Mark Twain Introduces 
Himself— Characteristic 
Speech 

Speech on Happiness 
Burnt Corkers—Minstrel 
Dialogue 

Tne Nervous Woman 
The Five Senses—Minstrel 
Dialogue 

The Dutchman’s Experi¬ 
ence 

Essay on the Wheelbarrow 
Bones at a Pic-Nic 
The Virginia Mummy— 
Negro Farce 


Brudder Bones in Clover 
Artemus Ward’s Advice to 
Husbands 

Where the Lion Roareth, 
and the Wang-Doodle 
Monrneth 

Romeo and Juliet in 1880 
Artemus Ward’s Panorama 
Brudder Bones as a Carpet- 
Bagger—Interlocutor and 
Bones 

Major Jones’ Fourth of July 
Oration 

Curiosities for a Museum— 
Minstrel Dialogue 
Burlesque Oration on Mat¬ 
rimony 

Brudder Bones on the Rag- 

-Turtle Man— 
Ethiopian Sketch 
Bones’ Dream—Ethiopian 
Sketch 

Come and Hug Me 
Widow O’Brien’s Toast 
Scenes at the Police Court 
—Musical Minstrel Dia¬ 
logue 

Brudder Bones as a Log- 
Roller 

De Pint Wid Old Pete- 
Negro Dialect Recitation 
A Touching Appeal—Dutch 
Dialect Recitation 
Wounded in the Corners 
Darkey Dialogue 
End Gag— Interlocutor and 
Bones 


ing Can awl 
The Snackin’ 


178 pages, paper covers 
Bound in board, cloth back 


J 


- 80 ett/ 












Kavanaugh’s New Speeches and Dialogues fof Young 

Children. Containing easy pieces in plain language, readily understood 
by little children, and expressly adapted for School Exhibitions and Christ¬ 
mas and other juvenile celebrations. By Mrs. Russell Kavanaugh. This 
Is an entirely new series of Recitations and Dialogues by this author, and 
full of pieces, in her well-known style of familiar simplicity, admirably 
calculated to give the little ones additional opportunities to distinguish 
themselves before an audience. It oontains the following: 


Introduction....-..*.*. 

Opening Speech. 

Speech for a School Exhibition 

The Parc© (The Fates). 

Which Would You Rather Be? 

Speech fora Tiny Girl. 

An Old Story, for a Child. 

Speech for a Boy. 

A Sudden Revulsion. 

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. A 
Novel Christmas Festival... 

May Celebration. 

Speech of Crowner. 

Speech of Sceptre-Bearer. .. 

Speech of Fun. 

Speech of Frolic. 

Speech of Vanity. 

Speech of Modesty..... 

Speech of Beauty. 

Speech of Jollity. 

Speech of Boot-Black. 

8peech of News-Boy. 

Speech of May-Queen. 

The Tables Turned, for a Child 

Speech for a Boy. 

Speech for a Small Boy. 

Speech for a Very Little Boy.. 
The Farmer Boy and the City 

Dude... 

The Small Boy. 

Transposed . 

The Sun and His Satellites.... 

Speech of the Sun. 

Speech of the Moon.„.. 

Speech of Mercury. 

Speech of Mars. 

Speech of Jupiter.. 

Speecn of Saturn. 

Speech of Venus. 

True Happiness. 

Genru and Application. 

Five Versus Twenty-five. 

Saved from Suicide. 

Speech fox a Very Small Child 

Three Enigmas... 

Tickle his Hand with a Ten 

Dellai Bill. 

Speech for a Small Boy. 

Beautiful Belles, for several 

Girls.. 

Beautiful Dudes, for several 
Boye.... 


3 

6 

1 


8 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 


1 


1 

1 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 


3 


Boys. 

Four T Rose-Buds . ...... 

1 

A Rmiqiiet___......... 

1 

TaI TaI. 


Speech for a Very Little Girl.. 
Speech for a Very Little Boy.. 
Blood Will Tell. 


A Warning t . 

1 

A Race for Life.... 


“He is a Brick”... 


Speech for a Small Boy. ...... 

2 

Watching ............... ... 

3 

Gold. 

A Touching Incident. 


Buy a Broom, for several Girls 
Confusion Worse Confounded. 
A Relentless Tyrant, for a Child 
My Broth er Jean. 


The Gratitude of the World.... 
At, the Skating Rink,......... 

1 

Dimes! Oh, Dimes!.. 

1 

A Fatal Bait, for a Child. 

1 

The Decorated Donkey, for a 
Child. 


Tight. Times,... 

1 

The Reason Why.... 

1 

A Modern Flirtation.. 

1 

Country Meeting Talk. 


Speech... 

2 

Deeds of Kindness. 


The Boy’s Complaint. 


What Not to Do.. 


Temperance Address. 


The Quarrelsome Bov. 


An Awful Fly, for a Little One 
Content. 


The Winds of the Prairie. 

Santa Claus* Christmas Tree 
Speech. 


The Creator. 

1 

Where Did They Go. 


The Parting Lovers. 

1 

Do Your Rest,. 

1 

Cherish Kindly Feelings 


Advice to Boys.. 

1 

1 

I Wish I Was a Grown-up .... 
No Time Like the Present.... 
The Boys We Need.. 

1 

Summer Vacation.. 


MUSIC. 

Three Bright, Stars.. „ 


Beautiful Belles 


Buy a Broom .. .. 


i 

& 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

I 

1 

1 

1 

1 


1 

I 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 


1 

1 


1 

1 




lima Illuminated Paper Cover 


,30 eta. Boards,. 


50 eta 


































































































Howard’s Recitations, Comic, Serious and Pathetic. Col¬ 
lection of fresh Recitations in Prose and Poetry, suitable for Anniver¬ 
saries, Exhibitions, Social Gatherings, and Evening Parties. Contents : 


Miss Malony on the Chinese 
Question 
Kit Carson’s Ride 
Buck Fanehaw’s Funeral 
Knocked About 
Puzzled Dutchman 
Shamus O’Brien 
Naughty Little Girl 
Beils of Shandon 
No Sect in Heaven 
Rory O’Mvore’s Present 
u Mother’s Fool’* 

Queen Elizabeth—a Comic 
Oration 
The Starling 
Lord Dundreary’s Riddle 
The Stuttering Lass 
Th9 Irish Traveler 
The Remedy as Bad as the 
Disease 

A,Subject for Dissection 
The Heathen Chinee 
Mona’s Waters 
A Showman on the Wood- 

/'ll 11 

How Happy I’ll Be 
A Frenchman’s Account of 
the Fall 
Isabel’s Grave 
Parson and the Spaniel 


An Irishman’s Letter 
Irish Letter 
The Halibut in Love 
The Merry Soap-Boiler 
The Unbeliever 
The Voices at the Throne 
Dundreary Proposing 
The Fir eman 
Paul Revere’s Ride 
Annie and Willie’s Prayer 
A Frenchman on Macbeth 
The New Church Organ 
Katrin aLikes me Poody Veil 
How to Save a Thousand 
Pounds 

How I Got Invited to Dinner 
Patient Joe 

Jimmy Butler and the Owl 
The Menagerie 
Old Quizzle 
Infidel and Quaker 
The La wyer and the Chlm- 
ney-S weeper 
Bill Mas on’s Bride 
Judging by Appearances 
The Death’s Head 
Betsey and I are Out 
Betsey Destroys the Paper 
Father Blake’s Collection 
Blank Verse in Rhyme 


Roguery Taught 
Banty Tim 

Antony and Cleopatra 
Deacon Hezekiah 
The Frenchman and the 
Lan dlord 

The Family Quarrel—A Dia¬ 
logue on the Sixteenth 
Amendment 
The Guess 
Atheist and Acorn 
Brother WatKina 
Hans in a Fix 
To-M orrow 

The Highgate Butcher 
The Lucky Call 
Chalien ging the Foreman 
Country Schoolmaster 
The Matrimonial Bugs and 
the Travelers 
Peter Sorghum in Love 
Tim Tuff 
Nick V an Stann 
The Debating Society 
Deacon Stokes 
To Our Honored Dead 
The Dying Soldier 
The Yankee Fireside 
The Suicidal Cat 
The Son’s Wish 


16 mo. 180 pages. Paper covers. Price. 30 cts. 

Bound in boards, cloth back. 50 cts. 


Spencer’s Book of Comic Speeches and Humorous Recita- 

tions A collection of Comic Speeches and Dialogues, Dramatic Scenes 
and Characteristic Soliloquies and Stories Suitable for School Exhibitions. 
Contents: 


Comic Prologue and Intro¬ 
duction 

The Y ankee Landlord 
His Eye was Stern 
The Goddess of Slang 
Dick^ the Apprentice 
Courting in French Hollow 
The Case Altered 
Fox and the Ranger 
The Declaration 
The Warrantee Deed 
A Night’s Adventure 
Julia—Comic Love Scene 
Saying not Meaning 
Negro Burlesque for 3 males 
The Nimmers 
Gucom and the Back-log 
Widow Bedott’s Mistake 
How a Bashful Lover u Pop¬ 
ped the Question” 
Crossing Dixie 
My Last Shirt 
The Three Black Crows 
The Barber’s Shop 
Paddy O’Rafther 
Decidedly Coo 

Paper covers. Price. 

Bound in boards, cloth b 


Frenchman and the Rats 
The Jester Condemned to 
Death 

Kindred Quacks 
Hans Breitmann’s Party 
The Generous Frenchman 
Saint Jonathan 
Stump Speech 
The Rival Lodgers 
The Frenchman and the 
Mosquitoes 
The Maiden’s Mishap 
The Removal 
Talking Latin 
Praying for Rain 
Darkey Photographer 
Paddy and his Musket 
Hezekiah Bedott 
Uncle Reuben’s Tale 
Mr. Caudle has been to a 
Fair 

Chemist and his Love 
Disgusted Dutchman 
The Frightened Traveler 
Jewess and her Son 
Clerical Wit—True Lies 


The School House 
Daniel versus Dishclout 
Spectacles 
The Pig 
A Stray Parrot 
Dame Fredegonde 
Toby Tosspot 
Courtship and Matrimony 
Rings and Seals 
The Biter Bit 
Pat and the Gridiron 
Barmecide’s Feast 
The Country Pedagogue 
The Middle aged Man and 
Two Widows 

S ara toga W ai ter—N e g r o 
Scene for 2 males 
The Wrangling Pair—A Po¬ 
etical Dialogue for Male 
and Female 
A Connubial Eclogue 
The Italian from Cork 
Gasper Schnapps’ Exploit 
Epilogue—Suitable for Con¬ 
clusion of an Entertain¬ 
ment 

.30 cts- 

.*...50 cts- 













Martine’s Droll Dialogues and Laughable Recitations. 

A collection of Humorous Dialogues, Comic Recitations and Spirited 
Stump Speeches and Farces, adapted for School and other Celebrationsc 


Contents; 

Hints to Amateur Actors. 
Humorous Poetical Address 
The Bell and the Gong 
Mrs. Dove’s Boarding House 
The Wilkins Family 
The Lawyer’s Stratagem 
Eulogy on Laughing 
Drawing a Long Bow. For 
3 males and 1 female. 

The Origin of Woman’s As¬ 
cendency over Man 
Yeny Raynor’s Bear Story 
The Game of Life 
The Fortune Hunter. For 
2 males and 3 females 
The Parson and the Widow 
Hezekiah Stubbins’ Fourth 
of July Oration 
Make your Wills Farce for 
7 male characters 
Mr. Rogers and Monsieur 
Denise 

Job Trotter’s Secret 


The Darkey Debating Soci¬ 
ety. Dialogue for 2 males 
The Scandal Monger. Dia¬ 
logue for 2 males and 2 fe¬ 
males 

Poor Richard’s Sayings 
Prologue to “ The Appren¬ 
tice ” 

Address in the character of 
u Hope ” A Prologue 
Parody on the Declaration 
of Independence 
Bombastes Furioso. A Bur¬ 
lesque for 7 males 
Characteristic Address 
Examining de Bumps, Ethi¬ 
opian Dialogue for 2 males 
Election Stump Speech 
A Matrimonial Tiff. Dia- 
ogue for l male and 2 fe¬ 
males 

The Frenchman and the 
Sheep’s Trotters 


The'Poor Relation. Comic 
Drama for 7 males 
Tat you Please 
The Babes in the Wood. For 
3 males and 4 females. 

My Aunt. 

Handy Andy’s Mistakes. 

The Cat Eater. 

A Shocking Mistake. Dia¬ 
logue for 3 males and 2 
females 

Wanted a Governess 
Rival Broom Makers 
Paudeen O’Rafferty’s Say- 
Voyage 

Mr. Caudle’s Wedding Din¬ 
ner 

Our Cousins. Negro Dia¬ 
logue for 2 male characters 
Mr. Caudle made a Mason 
Address of Sergeant Buzfuz 
The Wonderful Whalers 
Sam Weller’s Valentine 


188 pages. Paper Covers. Price. 30 Cts. 

Bound in Boards, cloth back. 50 CtS* 


Wilson’s Book of Recitations and Dialogues. Containing 

a choice selection of Poetical and Prose Recitations. Designed as an As¬ 
sistant to Teachers and Students in preparing Exhibitions. By Floyd B. 
Wilson, Professor of Elocution. Contents ; 


Instruction in Elocution 
Dedication of Gettysburg 
Cemetery 
Bheridan’s Ride 
There’s but one Pair of 
Stockings 
Modulation 

Drummer Boy’s Burial 
John Maynard, the Pilot 
The Boys 
The Duel 

Locliiel’s Warning 
Socrates Snooks 
Mosaic Poetry 

Burial of the Champion of 
his Class at Yale College 
Bcott and the Veteran 
Barbara Frietchie 
[ Wouldn’t—Would You? 
The Professor Puzzled 
Thanatopsis 
The Two Roads 
The Pawnbroker’s Shop 
The Sophomore’s Soliloquy 
The Nation’s Hymn 
Address to a Skeleton 
A Glass of Cold Water 
Little Gretchen; or New 
Year’s Eve 

Good News from Ghent 
The Sea Captain’s Story 
Qur Heroes 
lhe Closing Year 
Burial of Little Nell 

Paper Covers. Price.. 
Bound iu Board, cloth 


The Picket Guard 
The Poor Man and the Fiend 
Our Country’s Call 
The Conquered Banner 
The High Tide ; or, the 
Brides of Enderby 
Death of Gaudentis 
Don Garzia 
Past Meridian 

The Founding of Gettysburg 
Monument 

Spartacus to the Gladiators 
Soliloquy of the Dying Al¬ 
chemist 

The Country Justice 
Unjust National Acquisition 
Dimes and Dollars 
Dead Drummer Boy 
Home 

Responsibility of American 
Citizens 

The Jester’s Sermon 
Left on the Battle Field 
The American Flag 
Oh I Why should the Spirit 
of Mortal be Proud ? 
Parrhasius 
The Vagabonds 
A Bridal Wine Cup 
Blanche of Devan’s Last 
Words 

Widow Bedott to Elder 
Sniffles 

A Psalm of the Union 


Charge of a Dutch Magis¬ 
trate 

Stars in my Country’s Sky 
Bingen on the Rhine 
Religious Character of Presi¬ 
dent Lincoln 
The Raven 
The Loyal Legion 
Agnes and the Y ears 
Cataline’s Defiance 
Our Folks 

The Beautiful Snow 
The Ambitious Youth 
The Flag of Washington 
The Abbot of Waltham 
Ode to an Infant Son 
The Scholar’s Mission 
Claude Melnotte’s Apology 
Forging of the Anchor 
Wreck of the Hesperus 
The Man of Ross 
No Work the Hardest Work 
What is Time ? 

Brutus’s Oration over the 
Body of Lucretia 
What is That, Mother? 

A Colloquy with Myself 
St. Philip Neri and the 
Youth 

The Chameleon 
Henry the Fourth’s Solil¬ 
oquy on Sleep * 

On Procrastination 
Appendix 

.30 cts. 

.£Q 












Brudder Bones’ Book of Stump Speeches and Burlesque 

Orations. Also containing Humorous Lectures, Ethiopian Dialogues, 
Plantation Scenes, Negro Farces and Burlesques, Laughable Inter¬ 
ludes and Comic Recitations. Contents : i 


ff I may bo Speak. Bur¬ 
lesque Oration 
Pr. Pillsbury’s Lecture on 
Politics 

Vegetable Poetry. For 2 
males 

Teeo Brag’s Lecture on As¬ 
tronomy 

We saw Her but a Moment 
Stocks Up, Stocks Down. 
For 2 males 

Brudder Bones’ Love 
Scrapes. 

Stump Speech ; or, “Any 
other Man.” 

War’s your Hoss. Dia¬ 
logue Recital 

Geology. Dialogue for 2 
males 

Tin-pan-o-ni-on. For Leader 
and Orchestra 
2)r. Puff Stuff’s Lecture on 
Patent Mediciues 
Sailing. For 2 males 
Challenge Dance. For 8 
males 

Lecture on Bad Boys 
Tony Pastor’s Great Union 
Speech 

A Tough Boarding House 
Sleeping Child, 2 males 
Ain’t I Right, Eh ? Speech 
Wonderful Egg. For 2 males 
Bootblack’s Soliloquy 
Lecture to a Fire Company 


Julius’Peaches. For 2 males 
De Trouble Begins at Nine 
The Arkansas Traveler. 

For 2 Violin players 
Slap Jack. For 2 Darkeys 
Turkey - town Celebration. 
An ‘Oration 

Uncle Steve’s Stump Speech 
A Midnight Murder 
Dat’s What’s de Matter 
The Freezing Bed Feller 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins 
Paddy Fagan’s Pedigree 
The Rival Darkeys. Act for 
2 males 

Hans Sourcrout on Signs 
and Omens 

Hun-ki-do-ris Fourth of July 
Oration 

Josh Billings on Mosquitoes 
History of Cap John Smith 
A Speech on Women 
Impulsive Peroration 
The Bet. For 2 Darkeys 
Old Times gone By. Dia¬ 
logue for 2 Darkeys 
The Echo. Act for 2 Negroes 
Sol Slocum’s Bugle. 

Western Stump Speech 
In the Show Business. Dia¬ 
logue for 2 males 
“We are.” Stump Oration 
Original Burlesque Oration 
Waiting to see Him off. For 
2 males 


Patriotic Stump Speech 
De Railroad Accident. For 
2 Darkeys 

The Dutchman’s Lecture 
Prof- Unworth’s Lecture 
The Three old Ladies 
Josh Billings’ Lecture onto 
Musick 

Brudder Bones’ Lady-Love. 

Dialogue for 2 males 
Deaf—In a Horn. Act for 3 
males 

Or any Oder Man’s Dog. A 
Speech 

Happy Uncle Tom 
Stick a Pin Dere, Brudder 
Horace 

Lecture on Woman’s Rights 
Dat’s wot de “Ledger” says. 
For 2 Darkeys 

Goose Hollow Stump Speech 
De Milk in de Cocoa Nut 
A Dutchman’s Answer 
Lecture on Cats 
The Patent Screw 
The Auctioneer 
Hints on Courtship 
Dutch Recruiting Officer 
Spirit Rappings. Dialogue 
for 2 males 
Dar’s de Money 
Let Her Rip, Burlesque 
Lecture 

The Stranger. Scene for 1 
male and 1 female 

.30 cts. 

.50 cts. 


16 mo. 188 pages. Paper covers. Price 
Bound in boards, illuminated. 


Dick’s Diverting 1 Dialogues. A collection of effective Dra¬ 
matic Dialogues, written expressly for this work by various authors, and 
adapted for Parlor Performances. They are short, full of telling “ situa¬ 
tions,” introducing easy dialect characters, and present the least possible 
difficulties in scenery and costume to render them exceedingly attractive. 
Edited by Wm. B. Dick. 


/■.ost and Won. 

f tunning for Office. 

The Uncle. A Proverb. 

Love’s LabopNot Lost. 

Wanted—A Nurse. 

Almost A Tragedy. 

The Will. A Proverb......... 

Who Wears the Breeches. 

A Cold in the Head. 

The Wedding Day. A Proverb 


02 

02 


U) 

m 

Pi 

>> 


*3 


<5 

m 


6 

M 

2 

2 

A Society for Doing Good. 

4 



3 

The Reception. A Proverb.... 

2 

3 

1 

2 

Caught in their Own Trap. 

2 

3 

1 

2 

Elwood’s Decision. 


4 

3 

2 

The Report. A Proverb. 

2 

1 


2 

Reformed Mormon Tippler... 

3 

1 

1 

3 

The Fortune Hunter. A Proverb 

2 

2 

1 

1 

Petticoat Government. 

1 

2 

4 

2 

Now or Never. A Proverb.... 

1 

3 

1 

3 

A Close Shave. 


2 


Including a complete programme of effective Living Portraits and 
tableaux, with full directions for exhibiting them successfully. 


paper covers. Price. 30 Ctfl. 

^ound in boards, with cloth back............ -. - . 60 cts. 






























Dick’s Comic and Dialect Recitations. A capital collection 

of Comic Recitations, Ludicrous Dialogues, Funny Stories, and Inimitable 
Dialect Pieces, containing: 


An ^Esthetic Housekeeper 
At the Rug Auction 
Aunt Sophronia Tabor at the 
Opera—Yankee Dialect 
Awfully Lovely Philosophy 
Bad Boy and the Limburger 
Cheese, The 

Barbara Frietchie—Dutch 
Boy in the Dime Museum 
Pric-a-Brac 

Brudder Johnson on ’Lectri- 
city—Negro Dialect 
Butterwick’s Weakness 
By Special Request 
Can this be True? 

Champion Liar, The 
Conversion of Colonel Quagg 
Cut, Cut Behind—Dutch 
Debit and Credit in the Next 
World 

Per Oak und der Vine 
Per ’Sperience of Reb’rend 
Quacko Strong—Negro 
Der Vater Mill 
Doctor’s Story, 

Dutch Advertisement, 
Dutchman and the Raven 
Dutch Security—Dutch 
Early Bird, The 
Gentle Mule, The 
Granny Whar You Gwinet 
Girl of Culture, 

Goin’ Somewhere—Yankee 
Bound in Boards 
Paper Covers.... 


Go-Morrow, or Lot’s Wife 
Hard Witness, A 
Horse that Wins the Race 
How a Woman Does It 
How Buck was Brought to 
Time—Yankee Dialect 
How Uncle Fin had the 
Laugh on the Boys 
Humming Top, The 
In der Shweed Long Ago 
Inquisitive Boy, The 
Irishman’s Perplexity, An 
Jim Onderdonk’s Sunday- 
School Oration 
John Chinaman’s Protest 
Juvenile Inquisitor, A 
Malony’s Will—Irish Dialect 
Mark Twain on the 19th 
Century 

Mickey Feenv and the Priest 
Mine Moder-in-Law 
Mother’s Doughnuts 
Mr. and Mrs. Potterman 
Mr. Schmidt’s Mistake 
Mr. Spoopendyke Hears 
Burglars 

O’Branigan’s Drill 
Old Bill Stevens 
Old Erasmus’ Temperance 
Pledge—Negro Dialect 
Ole Settlers’ Meefun 
Original Love Story, An 
Our Debating Club 


Paraon Jinglejaw’s Surprise 
Pat’s Correspondence 
Pleasures of the Telephone 
Positively the Last Perfor¬ 
mance-Cockney Dialect 
Raven, The—Dutch Dialect 
Sad Fate of a Policeman 
Scripture Questions 
Sermon for the Sisters, A 
Solemn Book-Agent, The 
That Fire at Nolan’s 
That Freckle-Faced Girl 
The Latest Barbara Friet¬ 
chie—Dutch Dialect 
The Paper Don’t Say 
Thikhead’s New Year’s Call 
Tickled all Oafer 
’Twas at Manhattan Beach 
Uncle Billy’s Disaster 
Uncle Mellick Dines with hiB 
Master—Negro Dialect 
Uncle Remus’ Tar Baby 
Uncle Reuben’s Baptism 
United Order of Half-Shells 
Waiter’s Trials, A 
Warning to Woman, A 
Ways of Girls at the Play 
Western Artist’s Accom¬ 
plishments, A 
Wily Bee, The 

Woman’s Description of a 
Play, A 

Yaller Dog, The 

30 cts. 
50 cts. 


Barton’s Comic Recitations and Humorous Dialogues. 

Containing a variety of Comic Recitations in Prose and Poetry, Amusing 
Dialogues, Burlesque Scenes, Eccentric Orations, Humorous Interludes 
and Laughable Farces, 


A Prologue to Open an En- 
terfainment 
The Stage-Struck Hero 
Here She Goes—and There 
She Goes 

Pastor M’Knock’s Address 
Old Sugar’s Courtship 
The Bachelor’s Reasons for 
Taking a Wife 
The Spanish Valet and the 
Maid—Dialogue for 1 male 
and 1 Female. 

The Jackdaw of Rheims 
Jonathan and the English¬ 
man 

Artemus Ward’s Trip 
Auctioneer and the Lawyer 
Mr and Mrs. Skinner 
The Bachelor and the Bride 
Druukard and his Wife 
A Western Lawyer’s Plea 
against the Fact 
Reading a Tragedy 
Cast-oft' Garments 
How to Cure a Cough 
The Soldier’s Return 
Countrymen and the Ass 
Come and Go 
Paper Covers. Price 


How they Pop the Question 
The Clever Idiot 
The Knights 

How the Lawyer got a 
Patron Saint 

Josh Billings on Laughing 
Night after Christmas 
A Change of System—for 2 
males and 1 female 
Citizen and the Thieves 
Bogg’s Dogs 
The Smack in School 
The Tinker and the Miller’s 
Daughter 

An Original Parody 
The Parsons and the Cork¬ 
screw 

The Old Gentleman who 
Married a Young Wife — 
Stage-StruckDarkey—Inter¬ 
lude for males 
Goody Grim versus Lapstone 
—Dialogue for 4 males 
The Woman of Mind 
Wanted, a Confederate- 
Farce for 4 males 
Lodgings for Single Gentle¬ 
men 


Nursery Reminiscences 
The Farmer and the Coun 
cellor 

The Pugilists 
How Pat Saved his Bacon 
The Irish Drummer 
Mike Hooter’s Bear Story 
The Critic 

Mr, Caudle Wants a Latch 
Key 

Humbugging a Tourist 
The Widow’s Victim—for 2 
males and 1 female 
Josh Killings on the Mule 
Tinker and' the Glazier 
Wonderful Dream—Negro 
Dialogue for 2 males 
An Occasional Address—For 
a Lady’s First Appearance 
An Occasional Prologue— 
For Opening a Perfor¬ 
mance 

Address on Closing a Per¬ 
formance 

A Prologue for a Perfor¬ 
mance by Boys 
An Epilogue for a School 
Performance 

30 cts. 
50 cts. 


Sound in Boards, cloth back 














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GOOD BOOKS. 

Sent Postage-Paid at the Prices Marked, 


American Hoyle, by Trumps ”, the Standard Book on Games.$150 

Dunne’s Draughts-Players’ Guide.... L50 

Dick’s Games of Patience; or, Solitaire with Cards. 1.00 

Dick’s Art of Gymnastics... ....l. 00 

Hoyle’s Games, by “Trumps”.50 

Gossip’s Chess-Player's Text Book. 75 

Marache’s Manual of Chess. 50 

Dick's Hand-Book of Cribbage.50 

Modern Whist, by “ Trumps .25 

Dick's Original Album Verses and Acrostics.50 

Dick's Book of Toasts. Speeches and Responses— ..50 

Barber’s American Book of Ready-Made Speeches- .50 

Howto Conduct a Debate..... . ..... .50 

The Debater, Chairman's Assistant, and Rules of Order.50 

Ogden’s Model Speeches for all School Occasions.....50 

Ogden’s Skeleton Essays. 50 

The Worcester Letter-Writer and Business Forms.50 

Dick’s Common Sense Letter-Writer.... .50 

North’s Book of Love-Letters.50 

Dick's Commercial Letter-Writer. 50 

Martine's Sensible Letter-Writer.50 

Frost’s American Etiquette. .... .50 

Cruden’s Calisthenic Training and Musical Drill.50 

Dick’s Palmistry Made Easy. 50 

Day’s American Ready-Reckoner. 50 

The American Housewife, and Kitchen Directory.50 

The Amateur Trapper and Trap-Maker’s Guide. .50 

Dick’s Quadrille Call-Book and Ball-Room Prompter.50 

The Banjo and How to Play It*... .. ....50 

The Young Reporter; How to Write Short-Hand.. .50 

Dick’s Festival Reciter... 30 

Dick’s Dutch, French and Yankee Dialect Recitations.30 

Kavanaugh’s Juvenile Speaker, for little children.30 

Dick’s Irish Dialect Recitations... 30 

Kavanaugh’s New Speeches for little children.30 

Brudder Bones* Stump-Speeches and Burlesque Orations.30 

Dick’s Comic Dialogues, s. 30 

Holmes’ Very Little Dialogues.30 

McBride’s Comic Dialogues... ... ... .30 

Burton’s Amateur Actor. 4.30 

Frost's Dramatic Proverbs and Charades...30 

Frost’s Tableaux and Shadow Pantomimes.30 

Dick’s Parlor Exhibitions.30 

The Parlor Magician...30 

The Art and Etiquette of Making Love.30 

The Mishaps and Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck.30 

Dick’s Log and Lumber Measurer.....25 


COMPLETE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE MAILED FREE. 


DICK & FITZGERALD, Publishers, 

P. 0. Box 2975, New Tork. 









































































































































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